FRESH LOOK FOR CARNIVAL
DEVASTATING floods followed by a global pandemic hasn’t been enough to keep one of Townsville's biggest events at bay.
The winter racing carnival is returning again this year following smaller events last year due to COVID-19, but it will be bigger and better than ever.
Horse trainer Jeffrey Caught said the importance of the return of the winter racing carnival is enormous for the economy.
“Not just for racing, it’s for the people who live in Townsville,” he said.
“The Cup Day for locals is a big thing just like all the provincial and country tracks and last year being restricted, it means a lot just for the average people who come to the races.”
The winter carnival was launched on Wednesday at the newly rebranded Cluden Park, which replaces Townsville Turf Club, following the completion of a $14m redesign and development of its facilities.
The winter racing carnival kicks off with the two-year-old classic including family fun day on June 12 with ladies day kicking off racing week on July 31 ahead of the
Townsville Cup on August 7.
General Manager Natalie Rintala said the carnival offers something for everyone.
“There have been a number of challenges since 2019 around the staging of the winter carnival, but we seem to have overcome those,” she said.
With a capacity of 8000 people, patrons are being encouraged to purchase tickets online due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Tickets for the 2yo classic are on sale from Thursday, with winter carnival tickets on sale next Wednesday.