Ipswich centre stage of Queensland Winter Racing Carnival

Ipswich will hold the spotlight of Queensland’s Winter Racing Carnival on Saturday with a bumper crowd set to turn out for Ipswich Cup Day.

Racing Minister Steve Dickson said the annual Ipswich Cup had established itself as the best attended meeting of the year for Queensland racing.

“Winter racing is now a major event on Queensland’s sporting tourism calendar, attracting interstate and overseas visitors who want to experience the best horse racing on offer in Australia at this time of year,” Mr Dickson said.

"The Carnival highlights the racing industry’s vital commercial contribution to our state, as well as providing great sporting and social events.

“It’s another way the Newman Government is restoring confidence and excitement in racing across Queensland, continuing to deliver on its election commitment to rejuvenate the industry.”

Mr Dickson said Ipswich had well and truly earned its place in the important Queensland Winter Racing Carnival program, with an expected crowd of 20,000 expected to come through the gates.

“Ipswich Cup Day has established a reputation for offering not just a great day of racing but a social occasion that tens of thousands of South East Queenslanders enjoy,” he said.

“The huge crowds it brings in each year are a tribute to the capability and expertise of the Ipswich Turf Club."

Club chairman Wayne Patch said the meeting was the social event of the year for the city.

“Ipswich Cup Day is the largest provincial club meeting right across Australia,” Mr Patch said.

“That’s because it’s a real community event; a day when everyone catches up and meets up at the races. 

“It’s more than a race meeting, it is a great occasion.”

Mr Dickson said the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, which runs from April to July, was a reminder of racing’s major economic contribution; supporting 30,000 jobs and contributing an estimated $855 million annually to Queensland’s economy.

[ENDS] 14 June 2013           

Media contact: Anna Hilton 0408 191 192