Bumper bonuses headline Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival

A total $1 million in bonus payments will headline this year’s Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. 

The new Great Northern Crowns bonus initiative will see $500,000 awarded to any horse that can secure all four major Cups races held across Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. 

A further $500,000 will also be on offer if any horse can take out all four of the Northern Carnival’s feature sprints – the Rockhampton Newmarket, Mackay Newmarket, Cleveland Bay, and Cairns Newmarket. 

In addition, a bonus of $250,000 will be awarded to any horse that can secure three out of the four staying or sprint races

“Great Northern is thrilled to partner with our valued Central and North Queensland race clubs in Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns to provide the opportunity to win $1 million thanks to the new Great Northern Crowns Bonus,” Great Northern State Manager Ian Giles said.

“Great Northern is an iconic beverage in Queensland and we hope to be raising a glass of Queensland’s favourite beer to a local participant in August who takes out one of the bonuses on offer."

The Northern Carnival will see more than $4 million in prize money and bonuses up for grabs over two thrilling months of racing – commencing in Rockhampton on July 9. 

The action gets underway at Callaghan Park with the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket Handicap on Thursday, July 9, before the running of the famous $150,000 Rockhampton Cup and Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas on Saturday, July 11.

Racing continues north to Mackay one week later, with the running of the $75,000 Mackay Newmarket on Friday, July 17, followed by the $150,000 Mackay Cup on Saturday, July 25, alongside the Magic Millions Whitsunday Guineas. 

Attention then turns to Townsville, with the city to host two weekends of feature racing from Saturday, August 1. 

A week later on August 8, the $150,000 Townsville Cup, the $100,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap, and the $75,000 Magic Millions Townsville Guineas will take centre stage. 

Finally, the winter racing action heads to the Far North for the second iteration of the Cairns Super Carnival, with the Cairns Amateur Cup and Lighting Handicap kicking off the event on Saturday, August 22. 

The $100,000 Cairns Newmarket will be held on Friday, August 28 before the curtain draws on the carnival at Ladbrokes Cannon Park with the $150,000 Cairns Cup and Magic Millions Daintree Guineas on Saturday, August 29. 

The Cairns Jockey Club will also welcome one of Australia’s most decorated jockeys, William ‘The Wizard’ Pike to ride at the Cairns Super Carnival on both August 28 and 29. 

“With four incredible cup races staged across Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, the Northern Winter Carnival continues to put our Central and North Queensland clubs in the spotlight,” Acting Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray said. 

“We are thrilled to see Great Northern come on board for the Great Northern Crowns bonus initiative, which will provide our participants with some extra motivation this year. 

“We look forward to another incredibly successful Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival and wish all involved the best of luck.” 

Click here for more information on the 2026 Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.