The nation’s premier Winter Carnival will take centre stage in 2025, with more than $28 million in prize money on offer.
The most innovative and lucrative Queensland Racing Carnival in its history will take place from May 3 to July 5, headlined by nine million-dollar races and 55 black-type features—including eight Group 1 events—across 11 race meetings.
The $3 million Stradbroke Handicap headlines a trio of million-dollar sprints that will attract Australia’s premier gallopers to the Sunshine State, with the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 and $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup acting as the perfectly placed lead-up races.
The Brisbane Racing Club’s Stradbroke Season will present six of the Winter Carnival’s marquee racedays, with the $6.5 million Stradbroke Day acting as the crowning jewel, including the $3 million Group 1 sitting alongside the $1 million Group 1 JJ Atkins and the $1.2 million Group 2 Q22.
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the State Government is proud to support the Queensland Racing Carnival.
“The Queensland Racing Carnival helps drive racing’s $2.4 billion economic contribution to the state each year,” he said.
“Not only is it renowned as one of Australia’s great racing carnivals, but it’s also recognised globally with the Doomben 10,000, Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap all sitting inside the world’s top-100 Group 1 races.
“The eyes of the world are on our great state in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Queensland Racing Carnival is a key opportunity to showcase Queensland to a global audience.”
The Gold Coast Turf Club will play a leading role in this year’s Winter Carnival, with a new meeting under lights to be held in May, headlined by the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic — coinciding with the Gold Coast National Weanling, Broodmare and Yearling Sale.
At the front-end of the programme, the $500,000 Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes returns to Aquis Park, providing the perfect platform for middle-distance gallopers into both the $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup and the Q22.
Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said that the Queensland Racing Carnival continues to forge a reputation of where the nation’s champions shine brightest.
“At its core, the Queensland Racing Carnival is about championing everything that is great about racing in the Sunshine State, both on and off the track,” Mr Scott said.
“Every year, we see the current and future stars of the sport light up the track right here in Queensland, with eight Group 1s and nine million-dollar races ensuring all eyes are on SEQ for almost three months of feature racing.
“It was no different in 2024, as champion mare Bella Nipotina claimed both the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and Tattersall’s Tiara – as well as two placings at the top level – before going on to dominate the $20 million The Everest in the spring.
“At the other end of their careers, both Broadsiding and Stefi Magnetica confirmed their status as fledgling stars of Australian racing in the Winter Carnival, which speaks to our impact as the breeding ground of future champions.”
The Ipswich Cup Raceday on June 21 – featuring the $250,000 Ipswich Cup – looks set to draw another bumper crowd, while the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s Group 3 Winx Guineas, alongside the Listed Caloundra Cup and Glasshouse Handicap, will close out the Winter Carnival on July 5.
Finally, the famous Tattersall’s meeting at Eagle Farm on June 28 will play host to the final Group 1 of the Australian racing season – the $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara – alongside the Battle of the Bush Final, where country horses battle it out on the metropolitan stage for $200,000 in stakes.
Brisbane Racing Club CEO Karl deKroo said Stradbroke Season was increasingly being recognised as one of Australia’s premier and must-attend racing carnivals.
“The Star Stradbroke Season had traditionally had a reputation for unearthing the next wave of racing stars, but increasingly we are seeing top trainers and stables from across Australia making it a priority to bring their best horses north for the winter,” Mr deKroo said.
“They’re not just chasing significant prize money— they’re strategically setting up their runners for The Everest, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup campaigns.
“We are consistently attracting top-class talent to be pitted against a quality crop of hometown heroes and giving racing fans – both local and from interstate – an unparalleled experience at the Queensland Racing Carnival.”
Click here to see the full 2025 Queensland Racing Carnival programme.
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