The 2023 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival is fast approaching, with the record-breaking Group 1 Brisbane Cup to again headline the five weeks of racing action.
The conditions for the $1 million race at Albion Park on Friday, July 7 have now been finalised, including key eligibility requirements, fast-track qualifying pathways, new lead-up events, and new consolation events.
To be eligible to nominate for heats of the Brisbane Cup on Thursday, June 29, a greyhound must have previously raced at the Albion Park track at a distance of 520m or further.
This can occur at any race meeting at Albion Park prior to the nominations closing for the Brisbane Cup on Monday, June 26.
There will be plenty of dedicated opportunities for trainers looking to familiarise their greyhounds with the Albion Park track, with a minimum of 13 Thursday-night preludes programmed over 520m on June 1, 8, 15 and 22. Each of these races will carry $24,000 in prize money.
Alternatively, eligibility requirements for the Brisbane Cup heats can be met through competing in at least one of the many feature events programmed throughout the Winter Carnival.
These include the Group Two Flying Amy Classic, which has received a $75,000 prize money increase to $225,000, with the heats and final taking place on June 1 and 8.
The wildly popular Origin Greyhound Series has also received a significant prize money increase of $150,000 to $360,000, and will also serve as a high-level pathway to Cup eligibility.
In a new addition this year, greyhounds contesting the heats will also be vying for a berth in one of two consolation races, carrying highly attractive prize money.
The two consolations will be run for a combined $157,500 and will be held on the same night as the Cup final.
Participants will also be rewarded for competing in Queensland throughout the Winter Carnival with a $10,000 bonus applicable to any greyhound that runs top three in a selected lead-up event, and then wins a heat of either the Group 1 Brisbane Cup or Queensland Cup.
Racing Queensland Acting CEO Adam Wallish said excitement has been building for the Brisbane Cup since the announcement that prize money would almost double from $525,000 to $1 million in 2023.
“The Brisbane Cup has a long history and an honour roll that includes a cavalcade of past champions,” Mr Wallish said.
“In recent years, we have been determined to build on that history and consolidate the event’s positioning as not only Queensland greyhound racing’s greatest event, but also an event of the highest possible national standing.
“We have built a magnificent supporting carnival that ensures a feature event is provided for Australia’s best, no matter their age group or racing distance preference.
“This year’s carnival is bigger, richer, and better than ever, and we are looking forward to seeing it kick off next month.”
Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse said it would be a case of all roads leading to Queensland during the Winter Carnival.
“This year’s carnival is the best ever; the prize money is staggering and it’s conducted at a time when Queensland enjoys the best weather anywhere in the land,” Gatehouse said.
“The array of opportunity for both locals and interstaters, the overall prize money, the bonus scheme, the new event innovation, and the sheer connectivity of the carnival is sensational.
“The Brisbane Cup itself, at $1 million in total stakes, shines like a beacon and I can’t wait to witness the lead-in racing as Australia’s best greyhounds seek to underwrite their eligibility for the Cup in events like the $24,000 Preludes and other options.”
The 2023 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival gets underway with the Winter QGOLD Finals on Thursday, May 25, with $250,000 on offer for Queensland-bred greyhounds.
Click here for more information on the Brisbane Cup conditions.
Click here for the key dates for the Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.