Pure magic: Page hails carnival spirit
FOR the Gold Coast, Magic Millions has become a powerhouse – a festival of sheiks and British royalty, celebrity humans and horses, big business and big dollars splashed over a week.
Revenue from the sales alone has doubled in the past five years to $145 million, with household names like Winx, Buffering and Capitalist among the alumni, and the race day itself has become one of Australia’s richest with a $10 million prize pool. The 2017 event injected more than $26.65 million into the Gold Coast economy.
But for those involved, the event is the first on the Australian racing calendar and more akin to a family reunion than a big-budget bonanza.
“We just love that week, why wouldn’t you be in a good mood?” says Magic Millions co-owner and Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page (pictured), fresh out of a board meeting for the retailer. “A lot of us work in very hectic industries, we’re full-on the whole time and to be around something like this is the greatest feeling. “For Gerry and I, to wake up each morning and be able to go for an early morning walk or swim on the beach, go to work, do Magic Millions, meet all our mates, talk about horses – this is heaven.”
Ms Page and her husband and Magic Millions co-owner Gerry Harvey bought into the event at the end of the 1990s and built it up with racing identity John Singleton.
“For quite a long time we concentrated on the sales, getting that right, then Singo and I turned our attention to the actual race day and how we could turn it into one of the top events in Australia.”
The carnival is set to score a major boost with Channel 7 expected to announce a new broadcast deal at today’s launch of the 2018 event.
Seven heavyweights Kerry Stokes, Ryan Stokes and Tim Worner will attend the launch at the Gold Coast Turf Club, along with new ambassador, Melbourne Cup commentary favourite Francesca Cumani.
A series of good ideas, well executed, has seen some uniquely Gold Coast additions in recent years including the invitation-only launch party, beachfront barrier draw and exhibition race on the sand and the Magic Millions Polo.
This year’s event will also have a new man at the helm, with Barry Bowditch appointed as managing director to replace Vin Cox.