The Inter Dominion Championship is set to turn red, with Ladbrokes unveiled as the series’ major sponsor in 2023.
The sponsorship will see Ladbrokes assume naming rights for both the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion Pacing and Trotting Championships, as well as the pacing consolation race held on the final evening of the series.
The eyes of the nation will be on the 2023 Inter Dominion – held in Queensland for the first time since 2009 – commencing at Albion Park on Friday, December 1, 2023, and run exclusively at The Creek.
The second and third rounds of qualifiers will follow on December 5 and December 9 respectively, culminating with both pacing and trotting finals on Saturday, December 16 – worth $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.
Ladbrokes Australia CEO Dean Shannon said he is thrilled to come on board as the naming rights partner.
“As the major partner of both the Albion Park Harness Racing Club and Redcliffe Harness Racing clubs, it makes complete sense to get behind the Inter Dominion in its eagerly anticipated return to Queensland,” he said.
“Harness racing in Australia and particularly in Queensland is going through a strong period, riding on the back of some modern-day stars led by Leap To Fame.
“We are excited to be part of it and helping to showcase the best trotters and pacers in Australia and New Zealand.”
Nominations for the 2023 Inter Dominion close at noon, September 25.
The Inter Dominion forms a part of Queensland’s 2023 summer harness schedule which will take centre stage in November and December.
Australasia’s best standardbreds will converge on the Sunshine State to chase some of Queensland’s biggest features, with close to $2 million in prize money on offer.
Commencing November 4, the summer schedule kicks off with two action-packed evenings at Albion Park, featuring The Be Good Johnny Sprint, the Queensland Cup and the Trotters Sprint.
The popular Peak Of The Creek also returns, providing horses with a National Rating from 55-70 the chance to compete in a $50,000 Final.
The unique series will see heats contested in the week leading up to the Final, with connections again able to select their own barrier based on individual horse times run in the heats.
The highly vaunted QBRED scheme will also play an integral role this summer, with QBRED For Life 3YO races for both sexes featuring at the opening meeting, as well as a mixed sex 2YO Final.
Following its successful introduction in 2022, the winners of both the Group 2 Queensland Cup and Group 2 Queensland Trotters Sprint on November 11 will receive a golden ticket for this year’s Inter Dominion.
“This year’s summer will be like no other in Queensland, as the Inter Dominion Championship returns to the Sunshine State for the first time in almost 15 years,” RQ CEO Jason Scott said.
“On the back of another successful Constellations, this schedule will give Australasia’s best and brightest pacers and trotters the perfect platform to fine-tune their preparations into Ladbrokes ID23.
“With the nation’s premier harness racing event taking centre stage right here in our backyard, all eyes will be on Queensland this summer and we look forward to delivering our most exciting summer of racing yet.”
As the festive season takes full swing, racing heads north to Redcliffe on December 20 for the Redcliffe Christmas Cup, Trotters Christmas Cup and the Redcliffe Guineas, before returning to Albion Park for Members Cup and Christmas Cups for both pacers and trotters on December 23.
Click here to see the full programme for the 2023 Queensland summer harness schedule.