IF THERE is one thing our regional centres do better than anyone, it’s put on a cracking race day with impressive thoroughbreds. With the first UBET Northern Crowns Series just around the corner, there has never been a better time to shine your shoes and wipe the webs from your fascinators - it’s winter racing season and you do not want to miss it.
After the success of the recent Battle of the Bush series, the new-look North Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, featuring the first UBET Northern Crowns Series, is another notch on the belt of country racing in the Sunshine State, allowing punters to enjoy top quality programs in four picturesque and welcoming regional centres.
With race dates perfectly aligning, the winter meetings will form a true carnival of racing, stretching from the Rockhampton Newmarket on Friday July 6 to the Amateurs Cup Day on Saturday September 8.
In exciting news, for the first time ever the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival’s feature raceways will be linked by the Northern Crowns bonus series.
More metro trainers from Brisbane than ever before are expected to attend the carnival. They’ll be vying for the nearly $2 million in prize money, and the UBET Northern Crowns Series bonus pool of $350,000, for horses that can win three of the five designated races in the sprint and staying categories across the carnival.
Winter is the ideal racing season in the north for both horses and punters. And with so much to do in Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville, why not get some friends together and make a long weekend of it during the UBET Queensland Northern Crowns Series, building an unforgettable itinerary around the thrilling race meetings.
And the horses are on the track...
Rockhampton - Callaghan Park Racecourse
The Rockhampton Jockey Club was established in 1868, and over the years Callaghan Park has continued to attract thousands of racegoers. The Rockhampton track is considered one of the fairest in Australia, with a circumference of 1900m and a home straight of 580m, giving every horse their chance in running. Field sizes vary, depending on rail placements, from 10 to 16 runners.
Cairns - Cannon Park Racecourse
The Cairns Jockey club was formed at the Mining Exchange Hotel in 1884, and the Cannon family donated the land where the club is based. The first race meeting was held in 1911. The Cannon Park track has a circumference of 1,800 metres and a home straight of 320 metres, with horses able to come from all parts of the track to win.
Mackay - Ooralea Racecourse
The Mackay Turf Club formed in 1867 and the first race meeting at Ooralea Racecourse was held on June 18 of that year. The club has undergone a $7.4 million upgrade to the track and facilities. The track has a total circumference of 1,600 metres and a home stretch of 310 metres.
Townsville - Cluden Racecourse
The first race meeting of the Flinders and Burdekin Race Club was in 1866 at Cleveland Park. In 1874 the name was changed to the Townsville Turf Club and in about 1882 the club moved to the picturesque Cluden Park, in the shadows of Mount Stuart. The first Townsville Cup was run there in 1884. The track circumference is 1,680 metres and the home straight is 310 metres.
Winners are on the track
Group 1 winning Brisbane trainer Paul Butterworth trained the 2017 Rockhampton Newmarket winner Counter Meal.
“I always feel welcome when visiting the beef capital,” he says of Rockhampton. “I love going up there. My horses always seem to thrive whenever we travel to Rocky. I think the [UBET Northern Crowns] bonuses will make South East trainers consider an extended Northern campaign with their horses.”
Location, location, location!
Rockhampton experiences more than 300 days of sunshine each year, and is home to heritage post offices, beautiful old houses and historic streetscapes. Popular attractions include the zoo, botanic gardens, art gallery and the Heritage Village. Rocky is the beef capital of Australia so if you’re partial to a steak, this is your kind of town.
In Mackay you’ll find architecturally impressive buildings throughout the CBD, many from the 1920s and 1930s Art Deco era. Follow the banks of the Pioneer River and stop for refreshments at a riverside cafe. On Grafton Street, Artspace Mackay is an exciting regional art gallery. You can also enjoy a leisurely meal at the modern marina.
Townsville is a great place to be this winter. Explore tropical islands and wetlands or stroll along glorious beachfronts. Visit the Cannon Park Lifestyle Centre, with its bowling, skirmish, cinemas, restaurants and cafes, and Cotters Markets, on every Sunday from 8.30am-1pm.
The weather
While others around Australia are trying to stay warm in temperatures dropping into low single figures and down to sub-zero, Northern Queensland feels no such pain. In Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton the daytime temperatures during the dry winter season tend to peak in the mid-20C. The perfect climate to get your racing on!
For more information about the UBET Queensland Northern Crowns Series head here.
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