A trilogy of million-dollar sprints will headline the most lucrative Queensland Racing Carnival in history with more than $3.5 million in prize money increases.
Having recently announced The Star Stradbroke Handicap will double in stakes to $3 million in 2023, the Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 will enjoy a $500,000 increase to $1.5 million, while the Kingsford Smith Cup will rise by $300,000 to become the latest million-dollar feature on the calendar.
As a result, the Queensland Racing Carnival will soar to more than $25 million in prize money next year and will now boast two racedays comprising of three million-dollar races, with the Kingsford Smith Cup featuring alongside the Group 1 Queensland Derby and Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce.
Stradbroke Day will once again act as the crowning jewel of the Carnival, with the $3 million Group 1 sitting alongside the $1 million Group 1 JJ Atkins and the $1.2 million Group 2 Q22 on a day that will now boast more than $6.5 million in total prize money.
In total, eight million-dollar races will now feature across Stradbroke Season, ensuring Queensland is the place to race next year.
“The Queensland Racing Carnival is one of the state’s flagship racing events, and these significant prize money increases are befitting of its stature both locally and on the national stage,” Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson AM said.
“With the Stradbroke Handicap skyrocketing to a $3 million purse, the 10,000 and Kingsford Smith provide an even more enticing path as the nation’s star gallopers chase our most prestigious and coveted Group 1.
“Time and time again, we see the stars of the Queensland Racing Carnival frank their form during spring campaigns in Melbourne and Sydney, which speaks to our impact as the breeding ground of future champions.”
Having recently announced $17 million in increased thoroughbred prize money from February 1 next year, minimum black-type stakes will increase.
At the same time, RQ will place a 5% levy on all $250,000 races and above to support and enhance its animal care initiatives. This will apply to all codes in 2023 and beyond.
The black-type increases include:
- Group 2 races now worth a minimum of $300,000;
- Group 3 races now worth a minimum of $200,000; and
- Listed races now worth a minimum of $160,000.
As a result, no less than 36 black-type features across the Carnival will enjoy stakes’ increases.
The famous Bundamba crowd will be on hand to witness the feature Ipswich Cup run for $200,000 for the first time, while the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s Group 3 Winx Guineas and Listed Glasshouse Handicap, staged on the Carnival’s final raceday, will both skyrocket to $300,000.
RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said RQ’s Investment Growth Plan has played a critical role in ensuring the Carnival remains an attractive option for local and inter-state stables.
“We unashamedly want to hero everything that is great about Queensland, and the 2023 Queensland Racing Carnival will undoubtedly be our most lucrative and innovative yet,” Mr Parnell said.
“The enhanced sprint program will see $5.5 million on offer from the Doomben 10,000, on to the Kingsford Smith Cup and into the time-honoured Stradbroke Handicap, ensuring the best of the best are campaigning here in the Sunshine State.
“Thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s Betting Tax reform, we are pleased to deliver significant increases to almost 40 Group and Listed races across the Carnival including Stradbroke Season.”
The $500,000 Group 2 TAB A.D. Hollindale Stakes looks set to attract Australasia’s best middle-distance horses north, providing the perfect platform into both the $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup and $1.2 million Q22.
First introduced in 2022, a suite of attractive bonuses will again be on offer, with any eligible horse that runs first or second in the Queensland Derby or Queensland Oaks, and can then run top-three in the Q22, receiving a $100,000 cash bonus or $250,000 QTISx voucher.