Magic Millions creates Olympics pathway with world’s most valuable show jumping event

Australia will host the most valuable stand-alone show jumping competition in the world, in hopes it will encourage born and bred talent to stay.

Show jumping in Australia is about to take off with a $1 million event that will be the most valuable stand-alone competition in the world.

“We really want to bring our show jumpers through in Australia and the best way of doing it is to put money on the table,” Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page said ahead of the race day. “A million dollars has never been done in this country.”

Show jumping launched on the Magic Millions polo day on the Gold Coast on Sunday with a nation topping $100,000 in prize money and its success has led to the creation of a $1 million prize pool for the same event next year.

Gerry Harvey, Katie Page and Tom Magnier have announced a $1m prize for next year’s Magic Millions show jumping event. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Ms Page said the timing was perfect for young show jumpers aiming to compete in the Paris Olympics in 2024. “We’ve got the runway happening and we couldn’t think of a better way of supporting athletes in this country,” she said.

Her husband and Magic Millions co-owner Gerry Harvey said: “This will put show jumping through the roof. I love that.”

The couple, whose daughter Georgia is a showjumper based in the Netherlands, teamed up with Tom Magnier from Coolmore to put the plan together.

“This is a million dollars in one day. Magic Millions and Coolmore, the biggest thing that’s ever happened in show jumping in Australia,” Mr Harvey said.

It is hoped the new event will incentivise Australian showjumpers, like Olympian Andrew Hoy to train and hone their skills domestically. Picture: Equestrian Australia

Mr Magnier, who grew up show jumping in Ireland, said the prize money would lift the sport in Australia to overseas levels and allow talented young riders to compete at home.

“For us, there’s a million reasons now for every young person to get up, to get out and get on the horse,” he said. “There’s so much talent in Australia, there’s unbelievable riders in this country and now they’ve got something to aim for, Magic Millions next year.”

Mr Magnier said every Pony Club in Australia was packed with talented young riders, the best of whom are forced to go overseas to compete in major competitions.

“They don’t have to now, the prize money is here and the talent is here. Let’s grow it and get ready to compete in Paris in 2024,” he said.

The show jumping announcement came ahead of the $10 million Star Gold Coast Magic Millions race day on the Gold Coast that was attended by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and celebrities including Queensland’s new State of Origin coach Billy Slater.

It followed a week of yearling sales that beat last year’s record breaking gross of $211 million and saw more than a dozen yearlings sell for more than $1 million each.

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