Queensland Racing Carnival Records $28 Million Winter Programme

Racing Queensland has today officially launched the 2026 Queensland Racing Carnival, confirming a record $28 million in prize money will be contested over a 10-week winter schedule.

Running from May 2 to July 4, the carnival features 11 race meetings headlined by nine million-dollar races and 55 black-type features, including eight prestigious Group 1 events.

The centrepiece of the carnival remains the Ladbrokes Stradbroke Season, hosted by the Brisbane Racing Club. This season within a season features seven marquee racedays, culminating in the $6.5 million Ladbrokes Stradbroke Raceday on June 13.

The day’s namesake sprint, the $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, remains the most time-honoured test of the carnival, now bolstered by a new multi-year naming rights partnership with Ladbrokes.

“The Queensland Racing Carnival is an important economic and social driver for the state’s $2.5 billion industry,” said Minister for Sport and Racing Tim Mander. “The most recent carnival contributed more than $21 million directly to the state economy and created close to 29,000 visitor nights. With the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, this is a key opportunity to showcase Queensland to a global audience.”

Queensland Racing Carnival Expansion and Regional Growth

The Gold Coast Turf Club will host a signature night meeting on May 22, featuring the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.

Additionally, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club has received a significant boost, with the Caloundra Cup prize money increasing to $500,000 for its July 4 finale.

Racing Queensland Acting CEO, Lachlan Murray, noted the carnival’s role as a high-performance springboard, citing 2025 champion Half Yours, who used a Queensland victory to secure a historic Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.

“The proof is in the pudding that there is no better platform for success than the Queensland Racing Carnival,” Murray stated.

The carnival also marks a important moment for the organisation, as the Brisbane Racing Club prepares to farewell the historic John Power Stand at Eagle Farm, which will be demolished for redevelopment following the final Group 1 of the season, the Tattersall’s Tiara on June 27.

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