Caloundra Cup meeting concludes winter racing carnival

Saturday’s Caloundra Cup race meeting will give racing fans one final opportunity to take part in the 2014 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

The winter carnival, which includes nine race meetings with eight Group 1 races culminates in the Caloundra Cup meeting this Saturday.

Racing Minister Steve Dickson said the carnival delivered on the Queensland Government’s promises to reinvigorate the industry, with strong crowds and high quality race fields.

“So far about 85,000 people have attended the carnival, wagering more than $140 million, and watching on as more than $15 million in prize money was paid out, which is a great support to both our racing and tourism industries.

“The carnival really brings the national racing spotlight to Queensland, and provides a real boost for the local economy as well as highlighting the industry’s vital commercial contribution to our state,” Mr Dickson said.

“The Queensland Government is committed to a strong plan for a brighter future for the racing industry, and supporting the associated tourism opportunities, as part of our four pillar economy.”

Mr Dickson said the Queensland winter carnival was now firmly established as a springboard for the lucrative spring carnivals in the southern States later in the year.

“Australia’s premier owners and trainers know they can improve the prospects of their horses doing well in the spring by racing them in the high quality races that are on offer during the Queensland winter carnival,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Turf Club chief executive officer Mick Sullivan said the Caloundra Cup meeting, with close to $800,000 in prize money and bonuses on offer, was expected to attract strong fields and also a big crowd.

“It’s always a good meeting – provided the weather does the right thing by us. It draws people from near and far,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Our meeting is the designated metropolitan race meeting for the day. There’s no meeting in Brisbane, so there’s bound to be extra people who come to our meeting as a result of that.

“We’ll also have people from other parts of Queensland, from interstate and also from New Zealand,” he said.

“Those who come along can expect to see a very high standard of thoroughbred racing, and enjoy being part of a great race day experience. It’s promising to be a really good day.”

[ENDS] 27 June 2014                       Contact: Michelle Buckworth 0418 433 647