Group 1 Stradbroke season wagering turnover revealed

Racenet can reveal the wagering turnover figures on Group 1 Stradbroke season and it’s far from doom and gloom.

Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott. Picture: Richard Walker.

As nerves jangle around the country over wagering turnover post the sugar hit of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brisbane’s Stradbroke season has scored its highest turnover in history.

Stradbroke season is the term used for Group 1 race meetings at the Brisbane Racing Club during the Queensland winter carnival and the $238.9m in turnover this year betters the $237.7m in 2021.

This carnival’s figures from Group 1 meetings at the BRC are up from $232.6m in wagering turnover last year.

Queensland Derby Day was the big winner – with turnover rocketing up more than $8m from last year.

The last five Sydney races on the Rosehill card on the corresponding day were abandoned due to bad weather, no doubt leading to a spike in Derby Day turnover.

Warmonger demolished the Queensland Derby field by more than 10 lengths. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography.

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Stradbroke Day wagering turnover was down from $61m last year to $56.9m this year.

And the Stradbroke Day turnover was at its lowest level for several years.

But given the overall turnover from Group 1 winter carnival meetings was up, Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott was pleased.

“It is a great result to surpass the 2021 numbers as the highest turnover Stradbroke Carnival for the Brisbane Racing Club in history,” Scott said.

Queensland carnival turnover figures from the past six years.

“I acknowledge that 2022 would have been stronger if the Doomben Cup card had not been abandoned due to weather, but it was fantastic to see turnover hold up extremely well in surpassing the 2023 number.

“In summary, these are very decent turnover figures this carnival.”

It is feared wagering turnover could drop off the face of the cliff in some areas in Australia, but that certainly hasn’t happened in the winter carnival Group 1 meetings.

Stefi Magnetica holds off challengers to win the Stradbroke Handicap for Zac Lloyd and Bjorn Baker. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

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The Stradbroke season turnover figures don’t include World Pool numbers, with the World Pool in operation on Derby day and Stradbroke day.

There was an extra race on Doomben Cup day with the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic moved from the night before at the Gold Coast due to the state of the coast track.

Doomben Cup day turnover was up almost $700,000 on the previous year.

The Queensland winter carnival moves to Ipswich on Saturday and Ipswich Cup day is traditionally one of the best attended meetings of the carnival.

It is back to Eagle Farm the Saturday after for Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara day, with the Tiara being the final Group 1 of the Australian racing season.

The winter carnival closes on the Sunshine Coast with the Caloundra Cup/Winx Guineas meeting on July 6.

Originally published as Group 1 Stradbroke season wagering turnover revealed