Greyhound racing is set to dazzle over the coming months with the 2023/24 Golden Greys Summer Carnival hosting record prize money and increases to race statuses.
With more than $2 million in stakes on offer this summer, the Golden Greys will once again attract some of the nation’s premier chasers to the Sunshine State for eight feature race nights over 10 action-packed weeks, headlined by the $375,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion.
The Queensland Flame – now worth $90,000 as a Group 3 event – will decide Queensland’s representative into the $1.65 million The Phoenix, acting as the Golden Greys’ opening evening on November 30.
The ‘Chase the Flame’ initiative will again provide an opportunity for a competition winner to own a share of a greyhound for an entire year at no cost, aiming to grow future participation and involvement in the sport.
In addition, the Queensland Greyhound Adoption Program will also share in outcomes related to The Phoenix.
The QGOLD feature evening returns for its second year, with racing exclusively for Queensland-bred greyhounds to take centre stage at Albion Park on December 14, with almost $250,000 in prize money on offer.
Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said the Golden Greys would continue to be a resounding success entering its fifth iteration.
“Greyhound racing continues to go from strength-to-strength in the Sunshine State, and this has been reflected with increases in prize money and a boost in status for several races,” Mr Scott said.
“Following their success last year, we are excited to again kick off this year’s Golden Greys with the Queensland Flame and QGOLD evening, ensuring that our local greyhounds are given exclusive opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.
“The program remains attractive to the nation’s best sprinters, middle distance types and stayers, and we look forward to welcoming the best dogs and trainers from all over the country to Queensland this summer.”
Staged from November to February, Group racing will commence with the Queensland Flame before ramping up in the New Year with the running of both the Group 2 Queensland Derby and the Bogie Leigh Futurity – each now worth $112,500, up from $75,000 in 2022.
The meeting will also feature the Golden Sands, with Queensland’s premier middle distance event now boasting Group 1 status and an impressive $150,000 in prize money including $100,000 to the winner.
Also elevated to Group 2 status and $100,000 prize money, the Golden Ticket on January 18 will again act as the ideal lead-up to the Gold Bullion, with the winner receiving automatic entry into the $375,000 Final a fortnight later.
The heats of the Golden Ticket will be conducted as four-dog shootouts, with the Final conducted as two-dog match races – the winner determined by fastest time.
The Carnival’s penultimate evening will also feature the Group 1 $150,000 Gold Cup for stayers on February 1.
There’ll be added incentive from trainers too, with any greyhound that places first, second or third in the final of a Summer Carnival lead-up event, and subsequently wins a heat of either the Gold Bullion or Gold Cup, to earn a $10,000 prize money bonus.
“The Club is excited with the further developments of the Golden Greys Summer Carnival,” Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse said.
“The Carnival commences again with a local flavour with the Queensland Flame and QGOLD night over the first three weeks.
“The uplift in Group status of the Golden Ticket to Group 2 and the Golden Sands to Group 1 is a testament to the strength of the greyhound industry in Queensland.”
This year’s Summer Carnival will again include the Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial, Australia’s richest maiden greyhound race, with prize money boosted to $112,500 this year.
The Vince Curry Memorial will act as the Carnival’s closing night on February 3, which was taken out by the Adam Mcintosh-trained Elisheba last season.
Click here to see the full program for the 2023/24 Golden Greys Summer Carnival.