Record wagering turnover on Doomben Cup and Hollindale Stakes meetings

Racenet can reveal the 2023 Queensland winter carnival wagering figures, which featured two record-breaking days.

Huetor (right), winning the 2023 Doomben Cup, with the meeting producing its highest wagering turnover. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography

Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott says wagering turnover during the 2023 winter carnival has “stood up well”, featuring a couple of record-breaking days.

However, he has warned the broader wagering market appears to be flattening from the sugar hit during the Covid-19 pandemic period and said the situation must be closely monitored going forward.

Racenet can reveal 2023 Doomben Cup day produced its highest wagering figure in history, with $44m wagering turnover eclipsing the previous record of $43.2m in 2021.

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Hollindale Stakes day, this year raced on the Sunshine Coast due to a Gold Coast track rebuild, was a big winner.

It produced a record $35.2m in wagering turnover, surpassing the previous $30.5m mark and also became the biggest ever wagering meeting at Corbould Park.

The Stradbroke Handicap meeting was down year-on-year, with $60m in wagering turnover compared to the record figure of $61.2m in 2022.

However, the Stradbroke itself, won by Think About It, produced $14.8m in turnover and that was the third highest for any race in Queensland history (only behind the 2022 Stradbroke and 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic).

Racing Queensland chief Jason Scott says wagering figures during the 2023 winter carnival have stood up well. Picture: Josh Woning

While it was the largest Doomben 10,000 to be run at Doomben in terms of wagering turnover ($40.8m), the meeting was actually narrowly down year-on-year because last year’s 10,000 meeting was raced Eagle Farm.

“It’s pleasing to see that record-breaking prizemoney has delivered strong wagering interest,” Scott told Racenet.

“The quality of this carnival’s Group 1 winners has been exceptional.

“It’s hard to imagine we won’t see more from the likes of Giga Kick, Think About It, Without A Fight and Kovalica throughout spring.

“While the wagering figures throughout the Queensland carnival have stood up, the broader wagering market appears to be flattening, so we will closely monitor the week-to-week impacts on turnover and revenue.”

Think About It scoring the 2023 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Guy

It wasn’t all rosy news for wagering during the winter carnival.

Derby Day and Oaks Day meetings were both well down in terms of wagering.

But in 2022, the Doomben Cup was washed out so Derby Day became Super Saturday and Oaks Day was run as a 10-race card compared to a nine-race card this year.

Ipswich Cup day was also down, although not by as much as initial wagering forecasts indicated.

Nonetheless, officials say that even a standard turnover day on Caloundra Cup day on Saturday will push the 2023 winter carnival into record-breaking territory from a wagering perspective.

Originally published as Record wagering turnover on Doomben Cup and Hollindale Stakes meetings