The new-look TAB Queensland Summer Harness Racing Carnival has paid immediate dividends after enjoying stunning growth in 2020.
With the Inter Dominion Carnival postponed due to COVID-19, a number of Queensland’s biggest races, including the Group 1 TAB Blacks A Fake, were parachuted into the Summer Carnival, with turnover increasing by 80% and revenue increasing by 88%.
Unsurprisingly, the TAB Blacks A Fake, one of only seven Grand Circuit events across Australasia, was the highest turnover race for the Carnival at more than $775,000.
While the dominant victory of King Of Swing impacted revenue on the race, the Blacks A Fake enjoyed national coverage on the Seven network, marking the first time harness racing had been seen on free-to-air in Australia since 2018.
“The Queensland harness racing industry continues to make great strides,” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“The growth in turnover and revenue was particularly pleasing, with the marquee nights of the Summer Carnival all enjoying strong growth.
“Having recently unveiled the programme for this year’s TAB Queensland Constellations, we look forward to carrying that momentum into the winter period.”
The inaugural TAB Queensland Constellations was unveiled earlier this month and will feature 11 Group 1 races and more than $2 million in prize money and bonuses.