Magic Millions gallops into Gold Coast

The Jeep Magic Millions Carnival and Race makes its glamorous mark on the Gold Coast this week boosting tourism with visitors from around Australia and the world.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Jann Stuckey said the Magic Millions Carnival and Race Day provided an outstanding combination of fashion, bloodstock sales and horse-racing to complement the Gold Coast’s fantastic weather, shopping, dining and entertainment.

“The Magic Millions offers 25 events that combine yearling sales, racing and social events from 3 -14 January with the major highlight of the Carnival, the Magic Millions Race Day, taking place on 11 January,” Ms Stuckey said.

 “The Magic Millions Carnival and Race Day is a shining event on Australia’s summer calendar, combining everything that Australians hold dear – sun, surf and the love of horses in our ‘Famous for fun’ destination.

Ms Stuckey said the Queensland Government was proud to support the Magic Millions Carnival and Race Day through Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) as part of the Government’s commitment to double annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020.

“Major events such as the Magic Millions Carnival and Race Day not only attract visitors, they reinforce the Gold Coast’s reputation as a premier event destination,” she said.

“We promised at the election to grow tourism as one of the four pillars of the economy and this and other events will help us achieve that.

“Magic Millions joins major events such as the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600, Gold Coast Airport Marathon, the Australian PGA Championship and the Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival, among others, which showcase the Gold Coast and Queensland to the world.

“The Magic Millions drew world-wide attention this year with the appointment of Zara Phillips, MBE, daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, as the first Patron of Magic Millions Racing Women from 2014 - 2018.

“Ms Phillips was an eventing team silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics and former European and World Champion and her patronage will ensure the Magic Millions Carnival and Race Day continues to be seen as a major international event globally.”

[END] 8 January 2014

Media contact:
Natalie Wynne – 3719 7252/ 0439 291 268
Tourism and Events Queensland – 3535 5010