Racing fans head to Fannie Bay for opening day of 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival
Racing fans crowded into the Darwin Turf Club for the opening day of the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival. See all the photos here.
Northern Territory
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Dianne and Paul Morfidis had the perfect excuse to check out the Darwin Cup Carnival for the first time with one of their horses racing in the Darwin Guineas.
The Adelaide couple was among thousands of people who crowded into the Darwin Turf Club for the opening day of the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival.
Their racehorse Club Punter, trained by 2021 Darwin Cup winner Nicole Irwin, raced in the Guineas itself finally giving them the push to head north for the big event.
“We’ve got a horse running in the Guineas itself,” Mr Morfidis said
“So with that happening we’ve come up and made a holiday of it for a week and we love being up here.
“It’s our first time coming for Carnival and first time we’ve had a horse running here and we hope to have many more.
“We came up for the Carnival opening and it was really good, there’s a great atmosphere, good people and we felt right at home.”
They weren’t the only southerners making their way to the Top End for Carnival with New South Wales native Steve Edwards getting his chance after missing out in 2020 due to Covid.
BTC Constructions managing director Brendan Cunningham was among the action as a major sponsor and was looking forward to seeing people crowd to Darwin for the event once again.
“It’s really good, I love it when the Carnival comes around,” Mr Cunningham said.
“We’re hoping it really bounces back this year to where it was pre-Covid, I think it’s on the right track for that.
“The entertainment they’re promising will be really good and we’re going to see it really bounce back.”
The Darwin Cup Carnival includes eight major race days capped off by a massive long weekend which includes the Palmerston Sprint on August 5 and the Darwin Cup itself on August 7.
ALL THE PHOTOS FROM DARWIN GUINEAS
All the details for the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival
The Territory’s largest sporting and social event is back with the Great Northern Darwin Cup set to bigger than ever in 2023.
The Carnival features eight jam-packed days of racing from July 8 to August 7 and is expected to bring about 20,000 people to the Fannie Bay race track.
And it’s not just the racing which will draw the crowds with live entertainment, fashion and high-class functions also massive draw cards.
The action kicks off with Guineas Day which will pit the best young racehorses from the Territory and interstate up against each other.
The big race days remain the Palmerston Sprint and the Darwin Cup itself with both completing a massive long weekend in August.
Fashion will take centre stage in the Fashions of the Field which will be held on July 15, July 19, July 22 and finally on August 7, where the big award will be handed down.
There’s also plenty of live entertainment on the way including headline acts such as Mashd N Kutcher, Illy and Shannon Noll for the Darwin Cup after-party.
Darwin Turf Club chief executive Grant Dewsbury said this year’s carnival is shaping up as one of the best ever.
“It’s always a very exciting time of year with plenty of events which will again be popular amongst punters,” he said.
“I urge people to get in early as tickets are selling fast.”
Mr Deswbury said some new inclusions would make this year bigger than previous giving even more patrons a chance to enjoy the big day.
“In addition to general admission, patrons will enjoy access for the very first time to Centrefield with a festival-like atmosphere featuring live entertainment on a purpose-built stage,” he said.
“There will also be food trucks, specialty bars, a VIP area and market umbrellas, before hosting top-ranking interstate headline acts.”
For ticking information visit darwinturfclub.org.au.
Darwin Guineas – July 8
The Carnival kicks off with the ever-exciting Darwin Guineas which puts the best young racehorses in the limelight.
There will be plenty of hospitality options throughout the day including The Grandstand Luncheon.
Darwin’s leading trainer Gary Clarke has had his run of the event over the past few years winning with Autocratic and Wolfburn.
Meanwhile, jockey Paul Shiers is on the hunt for his 10th Guineas win.
Chief Minister’s Day – July 15
Known as Family Day the Chief Minister’s Cup has entertainment aplenty for all ages including face painting, jumping castles and live entertainment.
There will be plenty of interest in the $60,000 Cup itself with five of the past eight winners going on to win the Darwin Cup in the same year.
The day also represents the second day of the Territory Treble which includes the Alice Springs Cup and the Darwin Cup.
Ladies Day – July 19
Some of the best fashion from across the Territory will be on show for one of the most beloved days of Carnival.
And despite the name the style isn’t just for the ladies with Top End men also expected to suit up in their best to make an impression for the big day.
There is also the Ladies Day Luncheon at the TAB Pavilion, which will come to life with entertainment, prizes and giveaways throughout the day.
Derby Day – July 22
Black and white reigns supreme in the second leg of the $50,000 Darwin Double when the best young runners hit the track once again.
The prestigious day also features another chance to enter the Fashions on the Field competition held trackside.
Metric Mile Day – July 29
Metric Mile Day provides the last opportunity for Cup hopefuls to make the field for the final day of Carnival.
The 1600m event giving out $50,000 in winnings is one of seven top-quality events on the day with the $40,000 three-year-old handicap and $32,000 Flying Sprint also expected to be of interest.
Corporate Race Day – August 2
This day is all about the sprinters vying for the $40,000 Jaytex Construction Cup with plenty of trainers planning to take out some silver ware.
The leading figures of the NT business community will be trackside hosting corporate events.
The following day is the Let’s Talk Racing Luncheon, which is a must-see event for anyone with a love for racing.
Adam Hamilton will host a live broadcast frturing leading trainer Peter Moody and multiple Group 1 winning jockey John Allen.
It will be followed by the 2023 Great Northern Darwin Cup barrier draw which will the eyes of anyone with an interest in the big event.
Palmerston Sprint Day – August 5
The $135,000 Palmerston Sprint is the Territory’s premier sprint race and will once again headline a day full of thrilling action.
Local trainer Gary Clarke has a proud association with the race training last year’s winner Syncline as well as previous stars including Engiman, Captain Punch and Handsome Tycoon.
But he will face stiff competition once again from not only the Territory’s fastest horses, but also some interstate raiders.
The Gala Ball will follow promising a night like no other on the lawns of the Darwin Turf Club including a premium beverage package, delicious buffet and five-star entertainment.
Darwin Cup – August 7
Carnival concludes with the biggest day of all with more than 15,000 people expected to converge on Fannie Bay for the iconic Great Northern Darwin Cup.
The big race is run over 2050m and boasts a prize pool of $200,000 to tick off the largest sporting and social event on the Darwin calendar.
The day is broadcast to more than 40 countries and will feature everything from racing, fashion and entertainment.
Once again Clarke is the defending champion winning last time out with Playoffs, and the esteemed trainer will be hoping to back it up with another win.
Other past winners include trainers Rob Gulberti, who trained Ihtsahymn to victory in 2019 and 2020, and Neil Dyer’s Hawks Bay who won in 2011 and 2012.
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