Magic Millions 2025: All the details of rescheduled Friday night races under the stars
Organisers are pulling out all the stops to give racegoers a night to remember when the trouble-plagued 2025 Magic Millions carnival returns on Friday. FIND OUT MORE
Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Organisers are pulling out all the stops to give racegoers a free-entry night to remember when the trouble-plagued 2025 Magic Millions carnival returns on Friday with final details to be pinned down on Monday.
The final seven races, including the main attractions – the $3m Two Year Old Classic and $3m Three Year old Guineas – will be held at a twilight meet on Friday after heavy downpours on Saturday forced the race day to be abandoned.
Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steven Lines said final decisions would be made at a meeting with Magic Millions bosses on Monday morning, including about an entertainment program for what is already being billed “Magic under the stars”.
He confirmed entry would be free for general admission patrons.
“We will have a meeting with the Magic Millions team to determine how they want to see the evening roll out and, once we’ve done that, we will be able to put the plans in place but we’ll need to get the feedback from our stakeholders first,” he said.
“I’ve looked at the forecast and it’s looking okay right now and if we can get through this heavy (weekend rainfall) it will be onward and upward for us.
“We will get the magic stuff going and do our damnedest to give everyone a really good time.
“There are controllables and non-controllables and we just have to deal with it.”
The washout on Saturday after just three races capped off an eventful week during which the event’s fate hung in the balance following the discovery on January 3 of damage to a large section of turf near the finish line.
The damage forced the relocation of the first-ever twilight meeting earmarked for January 4 to the Sunshine Coast.
All the stops were pulled out to ensure the track was fixed for last Saturday, with specialist machinery brought in and experts arriving from Sydney and Melbourne to assist.
However the weather Gods had other ideas, with persistent rain on Saturday afternoon made it impossible to continue after just three events.
Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said the decision to postpone the race was the result of discussions with trainers and jockeys.
“The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday is an iconic national event, and will shine brightest on the national stage under lights on Friday,” he said.
“The safety of our animals and participants is paramount, and unfortunately a heavy downpour following the third race has left the track unsuitable for racing.”
The off-track entertainment still went ahead, including barnstorming performances by Jimmy Barnes and Irish singer Ronan Keating.
“Ronan was great, Jimmy Barnes was outstanding and it all turned into a bit if a party and everyone was so well-behaved,” Mr Lines said.
“Everyone just tried to make the best of it.”
Mr Lines said the timing of Friday night’s racing extravaganza would be determined after talks with Magic Millions management and Racing Queensland.
“We have to work with them to figure out the times and once we have done that and know what Millions wants to do with the broadcast, we will be able to pull it all together,” he said.
“We have done it all before, so we are good at crisis management.”
Turf club boss’ ‘disappointment’ with critics after track poisoning
The Gold Coast Turf Club’s CEO has hit out at critics after police confirmed its track had been “maliciously” poisoned in the lead up to the Magic Millions carnival.
Punters floored as Dushenka delivers on debut
While debutant Dushenka announced herself as a star on the rise, it was the shock defeat of Space Rider that created the most discussion in the opening race at Eagle Farm on Saturday.