Record Prizemoney for QLD Winter Carnival

The 2025 Queensland Winter Carnival is poised to dazzle, offering over $28 million in prize money and cementing its place as one of the most dynamic events in Australian racing. From May 3 to July 5, the carnival will feature nine million-dollar races and 55 black-type contests, including eight prestigious Group 1 events spread across 11 race meetings. The $3 million Star Stradbroke Handicap takes pride of place, leading a trio of million-dollar sprints alongside the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 and $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup. These marquee events will lure Australia’s finest gallopers to the Sunshine State, with Stradbroke Day – valued at $6.5 million – crowned as the jewel of the Brisbane Racing Club’s Star Stradbroke Season. On this day, the $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap joins the $1 million JJ Atkins and $1.2 million Q22 as highlights. Queensland’s Minister for Sport and Racing, Tim Mander, emphasised the carnival’s significance. “This event underpins racing’s $2.4 billion contribution to Queensland’s economy annually,” he stated. “With the Doomben 10,000, Kingsford Smith Cup, and Stradbroke Handicap ranked among the world’s top-100 Group 1 races, the carnival is a chance to showcase Queensland globally ahead of the 2032 Olympics.” The Gold Coast Turf Club introduces a new night meeting in May, headlined by the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, coinciding with the National Weanling, Broodmare, and Yearling Sale. The carnival’s front end also features the $500,000 A.D. Hollindale Stakes at Aquis Park, a key lead-up to the $1 million Doomben Cup and Q22. Jason Scott, Racing Queensland’s CEO, hailed the carnival as a showcase of current and future stars. “Eight Group 1s and nine million-dollar races highlight the incredible talent in Queensland,” he said, referencing 2024’s standout performers like Bella Nipotina and rising stars Broadsiding and Stefi Magnetica. Ipswich Cup Raceday, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s Winx Guineas, and the $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara further enrich the program. Brisbane Racing Club CEO Karl deKroo remarked, “The Star Stradbroke Season is attracting Australia’s top stables, delivering fans an unparalleled experience while setting runners up for global campaigns.”