Queensland’s feature racing calendar will be overhauled in 2025 with Grand Circuit races to anchor the Queensland Constellations and a new-look Summer Carnival.
Having secured Australasia’s premier harness racing series for the next three years, the Inter Dominion Championship will headline the Constellations in July including $1 million Pacing Final.
As part of the enhancements, the final night of the Constellations will offer more than $2 million in stakes and five unforgettable Group 1s with the addition of the Inter Dominion Finals, along with the Queensland Derby, Queensland Oaks and The Golden Girl.
With the Inter Dominion serving as the jewel in the crown of the Constellations, the Sunshine Sprint, Blacks A Fake, The Great Square, Patrons Purse and Redcliffe Yearling Sales 2YO and 3YO Finals will all form part of a new Summer Carnival that will also provide Grand Circuit and Group 1 racing.
While base level stakes will not be touched to fund the enhancements, feature prize money will be reallocated to ensure the Sunshine State hosts not one but two carnivals throughout the year, increasing promotion and ensuring opportunities are afforded to as many participants as possible
“The Queensland Constellations has gone from strength to strength since its launch and is now a must attend carnival for a myriad of reasons including those wanting to escape the winter weather,” Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said.
“The acquisition of the Inter Dominion provided a unique opportunity, however, for Queensland to secure two tentpole moments throughout the year where we are very much the focus of the harness racing code.
“The Inter Dominion remains the sport’s strongest brand, and by relocating it to the Constellations, there’s no excuses as to why Australasia’s best pacers and trotters shouldn’t be targeting it given the existing racing calendar, the stakes on offer and the incredible climate that Brisbane enjoys at that time of year.
“At the same time, the Blacks A Fake deserves its own time to shine and the establishment of a full-fledged Summer Carnival provides the perfect platform for our annual Grand Circuit event.
“We’ve seen previously that there is an appetite for feature racing during summer, such as last year’s Inter Dominion or the rescheduled Group 1s during the global pandemic including the 2020 Blacks A Fake, and both performed extremely well.
“Whilst we would have liked to have retained prize money levels for races like the Blacks A Fake and Sunshine Sprint at this year’s levels - and maintained the Queensland Cup and Queensland Trotters Cup - we have adjusted our feature prize money to secure the biggest brand in harness racing, the Inter Dominion, and ensure we can now host not one but two incredible carnivals.
“Importantly, base level and grassroot stakes along with QBRED stakes and bonuses have not been touched.”
The 2025 Queensland Constellations will feature four blockbuster nights. They are:
Saturday, June 28 – Redcliffe Cup
- Redcliffe Cup ($100k)
- Redcliffe Derby ($50k)
- Redcliffe Oaks ($50k)
- Redcliffe Trotters Cup ($20k)
- Princess Of The Bay ($20k)
Saturday, July 5 – The Rising Sun/ID25 Round 1 Heats
- The Rising Sun* ($300k)
- Wayne Wilson Paleface Adios Classic ($50k)
- ID25 Pacers Heats ($40k)
- ID25 Trotters Heats ($25k)
- South East Oaks ($25k)
- South East Derby ($25k)
* 3YO bonus now $50k.
Saturday, July 12 – The Protostar/ID25 Round 2 Heats
- The Protostar ($500k)
- ID25 Pacers Heats ($40k)
- ID25 Trotters Heats ($25k)
- Fleur De Lil ($30k)
- JC McMullen ($30k)
Saturday, July 19 – ID25 Finals
- Inter Dominion Pacers Final ($1m)
- Inter Dominion Trotters Final ($400k)
- The Golden Girl ($150k)
- Queensland Derby ($150k)
- Queensland Oaks ($150k)
- 4YO Championship ($50k)
The 2025 Summer Carnival will feature three blockbuster nights. They are:
TBA – Redcliffe Sales Finals Night
- Redcliffe Yearling Sales 2YO Final ($125k)
- Redcliffe Yearling Sales 3YO Final ($50k)
- Patrons Purse ($50k)
TBA – Sunshine Sprint Night
- Sunshine Sprint ($75k)
- DJA Trotting Championship Final ($50k)
- Peak Of The Creek ($50k)
- Queen Of The Creek ($25k)
- Stella Square ($20k)
TBA – Blacks A Fake Night
- Blacks A Fake ($250k)
- The Great Square ($150k)
- Forever Gold Mares ($50k)
- Bill Dixon ($30k)
- Trotting feature ($30k)
Further programming information relating to both carnivals will be announced in 2025.