Racing Queensland’s Summer Carnival has been judged a resounding success boosting participation, wagering and overall interest in Queensland thoroughbred racing.
Racing Queensland CEO Eliot Forbes said $13 million in total was offered in stakes over the Carnival and the results were impressive.
Headlined by the $10 million Magic Millions on the Gold Coast, Racing Queensland introduced four major lead-up racedays at Doomben, Eagle Farm and the Gold Coast.
Included in the new events were six new Black Type races taking the Carnival to 17 Black Type Races in total.
“What we wanted to do was provide an exciting pattern of races that would attract quality fields and bring a national spotlight to racing in Queensland at this time of year. Increasing wagering is obviously the key goal as that helps enhance returns for the Queensland industry,” said Dr Forbes.
An analysis of wagering data shows that total turnover for the 2016/17 Summer Carnival increased 7.1% compared to last season. Given there was one less meeting this year, on a per race basis this equates to an increase in average turnover of 22.4%.
The Magic Millions Gold Coast race day was once again the major drawcard with total turnover increasing by 16% to $53.7 million, a strong result off the large increase of a 39% in 2016 when the program was extended to a nine race card for the first time.
Magic Millions average field size increased 14.7 to 16, an 8.1% increase, while non-Magic Millions Summer carnival field sizes increased by 6% to 12.4.
Racing Minister Grace Grace has hailed the revamped Racing Queensland Summer Carnival a resounding success.
“Queensland racing is starting to fire on all cylinders as we head into the prestigious Winter Racing Carnival.
“This is a result of Racing Queensland’s enhanced commercial focus and I want to congratulate CEO Dr Eliot Forbes and his team on the summer carnival’s success.”
The UBET Summer Crown Bonuses provided a unique focal point with national attention drawn to the four $500,000 bonuses on offer, one of which was claimed by the Bjorn Baker trained Winning Rupert and the other by the Tony Gollan trained Most Important.
The second edition State of Origin Jockey series was run over the Summer Carnival and delivered a highlight at each of the venues with wagering growth on the programs of 6.6% per race.
The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival had 17 Group or Listed races and pleasingly ten races achieved an improved Australian Pattern Committee rating from the previous season.
