Sydney Turf Club

In an unprecedented partnership, racing and tourism organisations will come together to launch New South Wales’ Autumn Racing Carnival on Wednesday, 5 March.
 
As the Minister for Primary Industries, Mr Ian Macdonald announces victory over equine influenza (EI) in New South Wales, the state is busily preparing itself for the most eagerly anticipated racing event on the calendar.
 
With 50 days of glorious racing encapsulating more than one hundred racing events across the state, New South Wales plays host to world class thoroughbred festivities including the AAMI Golden Slipper, the David Jones Australian Derby, the Emirates Doncaster Handicap and the William Inglis Easter Yearling Sales.
 
The development of the umbrella campaign is the first in history bringing together six major partners: the Australian Jockey Club, Inglis, Racing NSW, Sydney Turf Club, Tabcorp and Tourism NSW.
 
The implementation of the momentous campaign expects to create greater awareness of racing in New South Wales, increase tourist numbers and generate additional revenue for the state.  In Victoria, since the inception of the unified Spring Racing Carnival, raceclubs have experienced an average 87.3% growth in attendances over the period 1993-2003 as opposed to 8.5% growth over the preceding decade.
 
With over $30 million in thoroughbred racing prizemoney and more than $250,000 in prizes for Fashions on the Field events, the Carnival will bring together 116 metropolitan and regional race meetings under the one umbrella.  It is estimated that women who attend the Carnival will purchase more than 6,000 hats and 8,000 pairs of shoes.
 
Leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse commented, ‘This is the jewel in the crown for racing in NSW.  The best horses from all over Australasia come together at this Carnival time to enjoy top-class racing, good prizemoney and a wonderful Carnival atmosphere’.
 
The launch at Star City’s Astral Restaurant will feature the exclusive premiere of the official 2008 Autumn Racing Carnival television commercial.  Filmed across three separate Sydney locations, the unique campaign features exceptional special effects highlighting New South Wales’ most celebrated racing events.  Preparations for the commercial began in November last year and its showing will be eagerly anticipated by many in the industry.
 
In all, the Carnival covers race meetings from Lightning Ridge in the North to Albury in the South, Lismore in the East to Cobar in the West.

View the Autumn Racing Carnival website.