It seems certain that the annual Alice Springs Cup Carnival will be revamped.
Nothing has been finalised, but a decision was made by the Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory board at its August meeting in Darwin to bring the 2024 carnival’s start date forward by 21 days to kick off on Sunday, March 17.
Andrew Maloney, chairman of the Alice Springs Turf Club, wrote to local trainers on Wednesday, advising them of the proposed changes.
The carnival accommodates five meetings and usually starts in early April, with Cup Day historically ending proceedings on the first Monday in May.
Alice Springs Cup Day this year was April 30, the last Monday of the month, but it appears as though the Red Centre’s biggest race meeting has been earmarked for Sunday, April 7.
Curiously, Day 1 of the carnival has not had a feature race – this year the two big races on April 8 were Open Handicaps for the sprinters (1100m) and middle-distance runners (1400m).
By bringing the carnival forward, the Day 1 feature will now be the $31,500 St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) at 0-70 level on March 17.
“Previously, Day 1 did not have a feature race, so this is a welcome initiative,” Maloney said.
The feature race on Day 2 – Saturday, March 23 – will be the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m).
The Open Handicap (1900m) and $30,000 Lightning Handicap (1000m) are normally held on Day 2, with the respective winners earning exemption from the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) ballots.
The NT Guineas winner is also exempt from the Cup ballot.
Day 3 on March 30, which is Easter Saturday, will accommodate two weight-for-age events – the $40,000 Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) and a 1200m race for the sprinters – with the winners qualifying for the Alice Springs Cup and Pioneer Sprint respectively.
The Pioneer Sprint is scheduled for Day 4 on Saturday, April 6, with the Alice Springs Cup almost certainly taking place the following day.
Since 2020, the Cup and Sprint have both been held on Day 5.
Up until 2019, the Cup was always pencilled in for the first Monday in May, with the Sprint on the preceding Saturday.
The Queen Of The Desert (1200m), a $30,000 feature for the fillies and mares at 0-76 level, always took place on Cup Day before becoming the feature race on Day 4 in 2022.
From 2024, the Queen Of The Desert will revert back to Cup Day.
The reaction was mixed when the ASTC changed its Cup Carnival format in 2020, so it will be interesting to see how hosting the Pioneer Sprint on Saturday and the Alice Springs Cup on Sunday will be received.
With the St Patrick’s Day Cup set to become the Day 1 feature, it will certainly provide runners with that extra lead-up race before contesting either the Chief Minister’s Cup or Alice Springs Cup.
Maloney indicated that the draft format for the 2024 Cup weekend would be along the following lines:
“The Racing Ministers’ Reception and Barrier Draw for the Alice Springs Cup and Pioneer Sprint to be held at the Alice Springs Turf Club on Thursday, April 4,” he said.
“On Friday, April 5, the Alice Springs Turf Club will host a Let’s Talk Racing lunch followed by the Calcutta and then the Tried Horse Sale with no racing on the day.”
In the letter to trainers, Maloney also attached a draft of revised race dates, with meetings scheduled in Alice Springs every fortnight throughout December and January and then weekly from February 10, 2024.
More work regarding the programmed races will be undertaken following further consultation with trainers, and TRNT is hoping to finalise matters by mid-September.
“The decision made was based upon all the feedback received from trainers, including taking into consideration the previous concerns of Alice Springs trainers about the long break over the December and January period and to enable NT trainers to better target both carnivals,” Maloney added.
“Separate to this, I can advise that I am working on a lighting solution with David Westover (Alice Springs Chief Steward) and Mark Summers (ASTC General Manager) to enable pre-dawn track work to re-commence in the very near future.
“We hope to be trialling some solutions in the coming days with a view to finding the best outcome in the least amount of time.”
More horse racing news
