$3m Magic Millions slot race moved to protect new Gold Coast track in summer schedule revamp

The first running of the new $3m Magic Millions slot race will be moved from the Friday night in order to protect the new Gold Coast grass track for the premier meeting a day later.

The new Gold Coast course proper track will be nursed through the Magic Millions carnival. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The highly-spruiked Friday night meeting prior to the Magic Millions has been axed as Queensland officials make moves to best protect the new Gold Coast grass track, which is on the comeback trail.

Magic Millions announced a new $3m slot race for three-year-olds would be run on the night before the famous Magic Millions card on January 11, however it will now be run a week earlier on a twilight card in order to give the track the best chance of racing well on the premier day.

• ‘I’m just a mum of three’: Milestone win for new Mishani trainer

Grass racing returned to the Gold Coast on the weekend after a significant lay-off and the club host a metropolitan meeting next Saturday, with officials and participants impressed with how the surface performed.

In a shake-up to the Magic Millions carnival, The Wave ($500,000) will now be an open weight for age race after previously being restricted to three and four-year-olds over 1800m.

The Magic Millions Syndicate, worth $1m and restricted to horses with 20 or more registered owners, will also now be run on The Wave card a week before the main day.

The first meeting under lights will be run at the Gold Coast on December 20. Picture: Glenn Hampson

• Presenter charged and fined over heated stoush with Willie Pike

“The Magic Millions is the pinnacle of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival and it’s imperative that we provide certainty to participants and attendees,” Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott said.

“Having adopted a cautious maintenance program to the course proper on the Gold Coast, we do not want to overwork the track while it is still establishing itself and we ran the risk of doing that by pushing ahead with three meetings in the space of a week.

“Instead, we have opted to bolster the final two weekends of the Summer Carnival, offering more than $20 million in prize money across two incredible cards.”

The first night meeting at the Gold Coast will feature a new $250,000 Debut race on December 20, with just one $500,000 Debut race to be run on Magic Millions day next year, opposed to two races in split divisions.

📣 NEWS: After a successful return to racing on the course proper on Saturday, we are excited to announce a new-look 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival in partnership with Racing Queensland and Magic Millions.

Head to our website to learn more 👇https://t.co/LMkzGsj374pic.twitter.com/0oVWQNg5eq

— Gold Coast Turf Club (@GCTurfClub) September 8, 2024

• How Hawks review almost cost Ratten's Moir Glory

“We fully endorse the objectives of Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast Turf Club to provide surety of a fantastic safe racing surface and support its longevity,” Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.

“To have 20 races and more than $20 million in prize money returned to owners, trainers and jockeys across two Saturdays bookending the Gold Coast Yearling Sale will be nothing short of phenomenal.”

The Magic Millions QTIS, won by Boom Torque this year, will go from $1m prizemoney to $1.5m in 2025.