New venues for TAB Battle of the Bush Series

Racing Queensland has announced six new venues will take part in the 2020 TAB Battle of the Bush Series.

Quilpie, Burrandowan, Charters Towers, Jandowae, Innisfail and Gayndah will each host a qualifying heat this year, culminating in the $125,000 Final on Tattersall’s Tiara Raceday at Eagle Farm on Saturday, June 20. 

The Emerald Jockey Club, which hosted a qualifier during the inaugural series in 2018, also returns to the schedule after a year’s absence.
 
The Battle of the Bush commences at the Quilpie Diggers Race Club on May 2 and will again feature 16 qualifiers (two per country region) across the state, with the final heats to be staged at Barcaldine Race Club and Gayndah Jockey Club on June 6 respectively.

Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Series was a showpiece event for country racing and looked forward to its return later this year.

“The Battle of the Bush has rapidly become one of the highlights on the Queensland racing calendar,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“It has energised the regions and provided our country participants with the perfect opportunity to race in town on a Group 1 raceday.”

Having witnessed the growth of the Battle of the Bush, Racing Queensland COO Adam Wallish said the organisation was delighted with its progress and its growth over the past two years.

“We’re pleased to be able to bring the Battle of the Bush Series to six new clubs in 2020 and hope that it encourages further participation in this fantastic event,” Mr Wallish said.

“The TAB Queensland Racing Carnival continues to go from strength-to-strength and the Battle of the Bush has played a key role in its success in recent years.”

A $30,000 bonus will once again be paid to the winner if it is a QTIS registered horse.

A full copy of the series conditions can be found at www.racingqueensland.com.au.