Straddie faces cash cut

QUEENSLAND’S premier race, the $2 million Stradbroke Handicap, is likely to receive a prizemoney cut of up to $500,000 next year as Racing Queensland moves to rein in its huge deficit.

The Bulletin understands RQ officials have proposed a $500,000 cut to the Group 1 sprint next year but it is unclear whether it will go ahead with the proposal.

The possible cut comes after officials boosted prizemoney for the Stradbroke to $2 million this year in a bid to lure international raiders.

If the proposal is enacted, the Stradbroke Handicap will be worth $1 million less than the $2.5 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in January.

It is believed the Stradbroke is the only feature winter carnival race that Racing Queensland is considering cutting at this stage.

However, all three racing codes can expect prizemoney cuts when RQ makes an announcement in coming weeks.

The harness code is expected to be the hardest hit as RQ bids to drag back a projected $28 million loss this financial year.

Dates for the winter carnival have all but been confirmed after RQ officials met southeast Queensland clubs recently over proposed changes.

As revealed in the Bulletin in August, the carnival is set to be extended from nine to 12 weeks next year.

Changes from

this

year’s carnival include Doomben Cup Day returning to a standalone race meeting on May 21 next year instead of forming part of the BTC Cup race day as it did this year.

The Sunshine Coast is also set to host two feature meetings – on April 23 and July 2 – during the carnival next year instead of its usual one.

Caloundra Cup Day is set to move back to the end of the carnival instead of its mid-May timeslot this year.

The Tattersall’s Tiara meeting will return to Eagle Farm on June 25 after being run on the Gold Coast as a one-off this year.

The Victory Stakes will return to Doomben on April 30 and will act as a momentum builder before the carnival officially starts on May 14.

The Queensland Winter Carnival will officially begin with the Toowoomba Cup and Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba on April 16.

Four Listed races will then be held at the Sunshine Coast on April 23 before Victory Stakes day at Doomben on April 30 and Prime Minister’s Cup Day at the Gold Coast on May 7.

Doomben will then host BTC Cup Day (May 14), Doomben Cup Day ( May 21) and Doomben 10,000 Day (May 28) before the Queensland Oaks meeting (June 4) and Stradbroke day (June 11) are both held at Eagle Farm.

Ipswich Cup Day will follow on June 18, before the Tattersall’s Tiara meeting at Eagle Farm on June 25 and Caloundra Cup Day at the Sunshine Coast on July 2.