The 2022/23 Golden Greys Summer Carnival is set to shine with a new-look program and record-breaking prize money.
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, headlined by the $300,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion.
For the second year, the Queensland Flame – now worth $60,000 – will decide Queensland’s representative into the $1.65 million The Phoenix, acting as the Carnival’s opening evening on December 2.
The ‘Chase the Flame’ initiative will complement the Queensland Flame, boasting a unique ownership and community partnership element, with each dog carrying the hopes of competition winners, who could win up to $25,000 apiece.
Hot on its heels, the brand new QGOLD feature evening exclusively for Queensland-bred greyhounds will take centre stage at Albion Park on December 8, with almost $250,000 in prize money on offer.
Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said the Golden Greys continues to be a resounding success entering its fourth year.
“Greyhound racing continues to soar, and with it we are delivering a Summer Carnival befitting of the code’s stature,” Mr Parnell said.
“We are excited to commence this year’s Golden Greys with two of our most exciting initiatives yet in the Queensland Flame and QGOLD evening, ensuring that our local greyhounds are given exclusive opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.
“This year’s Carnival is positioned to be the best to date, with a program that remains attractive to the nation’s best sprinters, middle distance types and stayers, supported by a raft of prize money increases.”
Staged from December to February, Group racing will commence in the New Year on January 5 with both the Queensland Derby and the Bogie Leigh Futurity – each now worth $75,000, up from $60,000 in 2021.
The meeting will also feature the Group 2 Golden Sands, slated as Queensland’s premier middle distance event, boasting an impressive $75,000 to the winner and total of $113,000 in prize money.
The $70,000 Group 3 Golden Ticket on January 19 will again act as the ideal lead-up to the Group 1 Gold Bullion, with the winner receiving automatic entry into the $300,000 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 $150,000 Gold Cup for stayers.
“The Club is excited with the continuing evolution of the Golden Greys Summer Carnival,” Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse said.
“Each year in its existence there has been a new twist added. This year there have been several innovations including the QGOLD races to complement the Queensland Flame, giving the start of the carnival a focus on local greyhounds.
“The repositioning of the Derby and Bogie Leigh Futurity ensure that the nation's spotlight will be on Queensland over a six-week period with races for Australia’s elite greyhounds.”
For the first time, this year’s Summer Carnival will include the $75,000 Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial, Australia’s richest maiden greyhound race.
The Vince Curry Memorial will act as the Carnival’s closing night on February 4, boasting an honour roll that includes Queensland Hall of Fame inductees High Earner and Just The Best.
Click here to see the full program for the 2022/23 TAB Golden Greys Summer Carnival.