RQ unveils Queensland Summer Racing Carnival programme

Racing Queensland has today unveiled its programme for the 2023/24 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.

With a staggering $25 million in prize money and bonuses on offer, the eyes of the nation will be on Australia’s most exciting Summer Carnival over 10 action-packed weeks, culminating with The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the famous Magic Millions Raceday would reach new heights, with both time-honoured marquee features – the 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas – increasing by $1 million to be run for $3 million apiece.

As a result, total prize money for Magic Millions Raceday soars to $14.25 million in 2024 (up from $11.75 million in 2023), while maintaining its standing as the only raceday in the Southern Hemisphere to stage eight million-dollar plus races on the one card.

The Mooloolaba Cup at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club on November 18 maintains its position as the Summer Carnival’s official opening, before the Tattersall's Listed Recognition Stakes and Tattersall’s Classic take centre stage.

Racing then heads to the Brisbane Racing Club for six consecutive weeks of action, with 15 black-type races and five Magic Millions wildcard opportunities to secure a place at Queensland’s richest raceday at the Gold Coast. 

The first Group race of the Summer Carnival will take place at Doomben on December 2, with some of the state’s premier sprinters locking horns in the $200,000 Group 3 George Moore Stakes over 1200 metres.

The day will also feature the finals for both the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede, giving regional participants the chance to compete on a metropolitan raceday for more than $300,000 prize money.

In preparation for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the programme will again provide the perfect platform for the nation’s best juveniles to shore up their spots on the Gold Coast thanks to the Listed Calaway Girl and Phelan Ready (December 9); as well as the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (December 23).

For the four-year-olds, a berth in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap again beckons via The Gateway on December 9, with a ‘win and you’re in’ ticket to one of the state’s most prestigious races.

Meanwhile, the Carnival will ring in the New Year up the range at Clifford Park, as the best local sprinters battle it out in the $750,000 King of the Mountain slot race – exclusively for Queensland-bred horses that are prepared by a trainer based in the Sunshine State.

A wildcard entry to the $1 million Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open is also on offer for the winner.

RQ CEO Jason Scott said the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival has elevated to another level this year, with both Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas now joining the Stradbroke Handicap as the state’s richest races.

“We are proud to deliver a carnival that caters for every sector of our industry, with breeders, owners, trainers, syndicators, and participants at every level given the best opportunity to taste success in Queensland,” Mr Scott said.

“The $13 million Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme is as prominent as ever, with a number of QTIS bonuses on offer, alongside the King of the Mountain in Toowoomba which remains exclusive to locally-bred gallopers.

“As we embark on our exciting and innovative Summer Carnival yet, we can’t wait to showcase what makes Queensland the ‘must-race’ summer destination.”

The Carnival reaches its crescendo at the Gold Coast Turf Club, hosting back-to-back meetings including the Aquis Wave Raceday on January 6 before The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday one week later.

For the first time, a second division of the popular $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden over 1400m will be introduced, to be held on Aquis Wave Raceday alongside both Magic Millions 3&4YO Rising Star races, and the Gold Nugget and Pearl for the juveniles.

The feature $250,000 The Wave weight-for age event for 3&4YOs over 1800 metres will once again come with a $200,000 bonus if the winner is Magic Millions-registered, alongside a wildcard entry into the $1 million Magic Millions Subzero seven days later.

The Magic Millions meeting will expand to an 11-race card in 2024, featuring eight million-dollar plus races, alongside the $500,000 Country Cup and The Debut (for unraced two-year-olds), which will for the first time have separate races for the boys and girls.

Finally, the popular Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonuses will include a total of $750,000 for eligible all-female owned horses across both the 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas races.

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said his team is looking forward to welcoming the world to Queensland this summer ahead of the first stage of the two-year plan unveiled earlier this year.

“Alongside Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast Turf Club, we are excited to bring our vision of the Magic Millions Race Series expansion into reality this Summer Carnival,” he said.

“There are more races, more prize money and more opportunity to participate than ever before. These enhancements will broaden the distribution of prize money to more owners and trainers.

“We are so delighted to grow our iconic Carnival for the Gold Coast and deliver the world’s largest ownership experience in the process.”

Click here to see the full programme for the 2023/24 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.