Lights, magic and prime-time action to lure millions

Magic Millions will go prime time for the inaugural lead-in race day to the Gold Coast carnival.

Kate Waterhouse with Billy and Nicole Slater (astride horse Bruce), enjoying the sea air ahead of the Magic Millions carnival next January. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Horse racing will be broadcast in prime time by Channel 7 for the first time when it airs the inaugural Magic Millions Gold Twilight race meet in January.

The evening races will be a curtain raiser to the Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast in January, followed by the polo and showjumping day and a week of yearling sales and bookended by the Magic Millions race day, one of the richest days on the racing calendar.

Combined, the two race meets will have a prize money pool of $20.55m.

Commentator Bruce McAvaney, who leads the Seven Network’s racing coverage, says the new race day will add to “social and sporting destination of the summer”.

“The twilight running of the Magic Millions Gold meeting will be a brilliant addition to an already spectacular program on and off the track – and a great showcase for Queensland and Australian racing,” McAveney said.

Last year’s Magic Millions Race­day was the fourth most viewed racing meet on television and Seven has projected strong audience growth by going to prime-time viewing.

Magic Millions auction house co-owner Katie Page Harvey said the twilight race meet at the renovated Gold Coast Turf Club would continue her ambition to widen the audience of horseracing.

“It’s under lights for the first time for us,” Ms Page Harvey told The Weekend Australian.

“Others have done it but this will really put it on the sporting calendar.

“It’s the Gold Coast, January, balmy nights, people having a good time, glitz and glamour – everything the Magic Millions is known for, but this twilight race meet is slightly edgier than the one the following week.”

By edgier Ms Page Harvey might be referring to the public karaoke event to be held trackside and hosted by former England rugby player Mike Tindall and fellow Magic Millions ambassador Nicole Slater.

“It’s racing under lights, we’re on prime time, we’ve got karaoke, we’re mixing it up,” Ms Page Harvey said.

“The Gold Coast will come straight out of New Year celebrations and into the races on January 4, followed by the polo and showjumping and the rest of the Magic Millions Carnival.

“It’s about bringing racing to all the people of Australia to see this wonderful sport of ours.”

The twilight races will be headlined by the inaugural $3m TAB Magic Millions Sunlight slot race for three-year-olds, jointly the richest race on the Queensland racing calendar. Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott said the extra race day would attract racing fans in Australia and overseas.

“The glitz and the glamour of Magic Millions under lights being broadcast into free-to-air prime time is a significant boost for the sport, showcasing one of the state’s richest race meetings to millions across the nation,” Mr Scott said.

Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mander said the Magic Millions carnival made a significant contribution to the state’s economy and was a strong advertisement for the Gold Coast.

“During last year’s carnival almost $53m was generated for the Queensland economy,” Mr Mander said. “The Magic Millions Gold meeting will showcase the Surfers Paradise backdrop to the world, and we look forward to hosting local, interstate and international visitors in our hotels, bars and cafes as they enjoy their stays on the Gold Coast.”