Ready to race in the 2023 The Star Stradbroke Season
Headlined by the $3M Stradbroke
THE Brisbane Racing Club today (Tuesday, 18 April) proudly launches the 2023 The Star Stradbroke Season, the most prestigious mid-year event on Australia’s thoroughbred racing calendar.
The six-week event, from 29 April to 10 June at Doomben and Eagle Farm Racecourses, is headlined by Queensland’s richest race this year, The Star Stradbroke Handicap. The Star Stradbroke carries record-breaking racing prizemoney of $3 million – double the prize pool of last year.
Across the whole of The Star Stradbroke Season is a record $20 million in prizemoney and a record eight races worth $1 million or more.
Special guest at today’s launch at Eagle Farm of both The Star Stradbroke Season and the Queensland Racing Carnival is leading Sydney-based trainer Gai Waterhouse AO. Gai and training partner Adrian Bott were victorious in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap with Alligator Blood.
Other special guests today are Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, jockey Ben Thompson, and Channel 7 racing identities Lizzie Jelfs and Kate Waterhouse.
Brisbane Racing Club CEO Tony Partridge said the substantial increase in racing prizemoney and the BRC partnerships with The Star Entertainment Group and Ladbrokes, announced late last year, elevated this Stradbroke Season to a whole new level.
“We are excited about the top-level racing ahead,” Mr Partridge said.
“The Stradbroke is our iconic signature race and the flagship for Queensland racing. As a handicap, it is an attainable race, and one that Queensland trainers in particular aspire to win.
“With the doubling of prizemoney for the race to $3 million this year we expect it to be one of the most hotly contested races in 2023.
“We look forward to welcoming both local and interstate visitors to our tracks, to experience the best in raceday hospitality and entertainment that we offer. We want visitors to feel closer than ever before to the action and to champions.”
Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson AM said, “The Queensland Racing Carnival is our traditional flagship thoroughbred event, with eight Group 1 races and culminating in the legendary Stradbroke Handicap, Queensland’s premier race.
“We unashamedly want to hero everything that is great about Queensland, and the 2023 Queensland Racing Carnival is undoubtedly our most lucrative and innovative yet.
“Over the years, we’ve seen superstars like Winx, Zaaki and Incentivise announce themselves to the nation throughout our Carnival, which speaks to our impact as the breeding ground of future champions.”
Treasury Brisbane Interim Chief Operating Officer, Justine Russell, said Treasury Brisbane has been a proud partner of Brisbane Racing Club for more than 16 years. This year the partnership continues with The Star Entertainment Group, as the owner of Treasury Brisbane and lead consortium partner for the transformational Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development.
“Our $3.6 billion tourism and entertainment resort development will be a game changer for Brisbane, just as this year’s Stradbroke Season is sure to be for the Brisbane Racing Club and the many thousands of racing enthusiasts,” Ms Russell said.
“With the Queen’s Wharf precinct due to commence a staged opening from December 2023, all eyes continue to be on The Star’s Treasury Brisbane property throughout this year’s racing season.”
“With live entertainment, a variety of cuisines across our signature restaurants and bars and an old-world opulent five-star hotel, Treasury Brisbane is the go-to entertainment hub for racegoers to indulge.”
For more details about The Star Stradbroke Season visit www.brc.com.au and for the Queensland Racing Carnival www.racingqueensland.com.au
For all media enquiries:
Keilee Perren
Brisbane Racing Club
Public Relations Executive
P: 0428 789 620
E: kperren@brc.com.au