Harness Racing Victoria has announced that two races in the upcoming TAB Queensland Summer Harness Racing Carnival will act as a golden ticket into the 2022 Inter Dominion.
Late yesterday, it was confirmed that the winners of both the Group 2 Queensland Cup and Group 2 Queensland Trotters Sprint will be eligible for this year’s Inter Dominion, commencing on November 26 in Victoria.
In all, five races across both Queensland and New South Wales will carry a 2022 Inter Dominion golden ticket, helping HRV attract a wider cross-section of contestants for this year’s Pacers and Trotters series.
Racing Queensland EGM Operations Adam Wallish said that the golden ticket initiative was a fitting acknowledgement for the TAB Queensland Summer Harness Racing Carnival.
“We welcome this fantastic initiative from Harness Racing Victoria to give Queensland’s best pacers an exclusive opportunity to contest in the 2022 Inter Dominion,” Mr Wallish said.
“The golden ticket races will add another exciting dimension to what is already shaping to be a successful Summer Carnival here in the Sunshine State.”
HRV General Manager – Racing Stephen Bell said that the invitation was offered to both Queensland and New South Wales to ensure that this year’s series would attract the best pacers and trotters from around the nation.
“We want the best horses from all around Australia and New Zealand to race in this series to make it a genuine Inter Dominion for the ages,” he said.
“Just securing a start in an Inter Dominion series is a dream for harness racing owners, so we’re sure the golden tickets here in Victoria and also in Queensland and New South Wales will be much sought after.
“Queensland and New South Wales were thankful for the opportunity, and we’re thrilled to have them on board.”
A Golden Ticket holder is automatically guaranteed a start in the Inter Dominion, which begin in Ballarat on Saturday, November 26.
Round 2 of heats heads to Shepparton on Tuesday, November 29, before the final round of qualifiers is contested at Geelong on Saturday, December 3.
Finals night will be at Melton on Saturday, December 10.
Last year, it was announced that Australasia’s premier harness racing event would return to the Sunshine State, with Queensland confirmed as the host of the 2023 Inter Dominion Championship.
Following the success of this year’s TAB Queensland Constellations, the return of the Inter Dominion to Albion Park, which last hosted the event in 2001, is expected to be warmly received on both sides of the ditch.
ID22 golden ticket races:
Pacers
NSW:
$30,000 Group 3 Sutton McMillan Free-for-All – Saturday, September 24
$30,000 Group 3 Kevin Robinson Free-for-All – Saturday, October 15
QLD:
$50,000 Group 2 Queensland Cup – Saturday, November 12
Trotters
NSW:
$30,000 Group 2 Tony and Jill McGrath Trotters Cup – Saturday, October 1
QLD:
$30,000 Group 2 Queensland Trotters Sprint – Saturday, November 12