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Sydney’s Autumn Carnival to celebrate 200 years of racing

16th Mar 2010

Sydney’s Autumn Carnival comes together and comes alive to celebrate 200 years of racing

Southern Courier - Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Sydney’s Autumn Carnival launched yesterday with the major influencers in the world of racing converging on Luna Park in a vocal and visible show of solidarity and shared enthusiasm for Australia’s Racing Championships.

The Autumn Carnival program comprises three consecutive Saturdays at Rosehill Gardens (March 20, 27 and April 3) followed by three consecutive Saturdays at Royal Randwick (April 10, 17 and 24), firmly placing Sydney on the international racing calendar between the Dubai World Cup and the Kentucky Derby.

Total prize money on offer over the six Saturdays is in excess of $18 million and 18 Group One races will be featured, headlined by the AAMI Golden Slipper & The BMW (April 3, Easter Saturday) at Rosehill Gardens and the David Jones Australian Derby (April 10) at Royal Randwick.

Strategically held between the Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick dates will be the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the leading sales in Australia and one of the most important three days on the Australian Thoroughbred calendar (6-8 April 2010). This year Sydney will also host the prestigious Asian Racing Conference from 9-15 April.

Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene said the new transformed Sydney Autumn Carnival will provide truly elite racing, with the highlights being the blockbuster meetings on the first two Saturdays in April - Slipper and Derby Days.

“This new fixed-dates carnival, combined with the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales, provides certainty to all the participants in the industry, from owners and trainers to sponsors, punters and racing fans generally,” Mr Greene said.

“It also brings a real boost to tourism and the economy through increased interstate and overseas visitors.

“We’re providing world class racing at the birthplace of the racing industry in Australia, as well as maximising the economic impact for NSW and reinforcing the status of Sydney as a global destination,” he said.

The new fixed-dates carnival structure gives certainty to punters, trainers, owners, breeders, fashionistas, and international and interstate fans.

Alongside STC, AJC and Inglis, the new carnival has support from the NSW Government through Events NSW, Racing NSW, Tabcorp and Tourism NSW.

Mark Webster, CEO of Inglis agrees that the transition of Sydney’s Autumn Carnival to fixed dates is a winning move and one which Inglis was quick to put its name to as a Group One sponsor on both club’s major days.

“With the Inglis Easter Sales now being held between Slipper and Derby days, it is unique to any racing spectacle in the world that their entire industry could be on show at one time, what’s more in such a global city”, Mr Webster said.

Peter V’landys, Chief Executive of Racing NSW said the NSW racing industry is in a very strong position to deliver one of the greatest Sydney Autumn Carnivals.

“The Sydney Autumn Carnival will showcase our great city and the very best thoroughbred racing in Australia. On two consecutive Saturdays, AAMI Golden Slipper and David Jones Australian Derby Day, the programs will feature premier racing with all races being black type. Across the six Saturdays of the carnival there will be 18 Group 1 races, the most elite black type races in the country,” said Mr V’landys.

“The Sydney Autumn Carnival is particularly special as it coincides with the celebration of 200 years of racing in this city, making Sydney the birthplace of Australian horse racing.”

Michael Kenny, CEO Sydney Turf Club is looking forward to delivering a world-class Golden Slipper Festival in 2010 which kicks off this weekend with Myer Ladies Day at Rosehill Gardens.

“The carnival’s new structure which fixes AAMI Golden Slipper Day to the first Saturday in April, means that for the first time in its 54-year history, Sydney’s premier race day will be held on Easter Saturday at Rosehill Gardens,” said Mr Kenny.

This is a new era for Sydney racing and together we enter into it with the combined support of our industry’s key participants.”

Darren Pearce, Acting CEO, Australian Jockey Club said:

“At Royal Randwick there will be a truly international feel on David Jones AJC Australian Derby Day when the Club will host hundreds of delegates from around the globe to a unique racing industry luncheon and host Sydney’s only international race, the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes which has been sanctioned for the first time as a Breeders Cup Challenge Race. With three great themed days of racing events and at least three Group 1’s on every day, the AJC Autumn Carnival provides the best quality racing program in Australia.”

The world class carnival is also set to attract the attention of punters with a predicted $250 million wagered with the NSW TAB on pari-mutuel and TAB Fixed Odds. Last year over $229 million was bet with the TAB on the Coolmore Classic, Darley Rosehill Guineas, AAMI Golden Slipper, David Jones AJC Australian Derby, Emirates Doncaster Mile and Schweppes Sydney Cup. TAB punters wagered over $20 million on the AAMI Golden Slipper meeting alone, making it the most popular meeting of the 2009 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Elmer Funke Kupper, CEO of Tabcorp said:

“As Australia’s largest wagering company and a key industry partner, it is only natural that Tabcorp continues to take a working together approach with Racing NSW, the AJC, STC, Events NSW and Inglis to create a successful 2010 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Tabcorp looks forward to the 2010 Sydney Autumn Carnival being an outstanding success and continuing to be a premier event on Sydney’s sporting and entertainment calendar.”

The Sydney Autumn Carnival 2010 will take place between 20th March – 24th April 2010.

For more information on Sydney Autumn Carnival 2010 visit www.sydneyautumncarnival2010.com.au