news room
QLD - Messages From The Racing Office
Saturday Mares Races
To further enhance opportunities for Mares at Metropolitan meetings we have introduced a clause on to most Band 5 Mares races effective immediately:
Also Eligible horses balloted from the Mares Open.
The aim is to provide opportunity for mares that may receive a ballot from the Mares Open rather than leaving them at home and to maximize field sizes.
The clause won’t be applied to the Mares Band 5 race that carries the higher-than-normal race stake of $20,770 which is scheduled once per month.
Consideration will be given to re-introducing driver claims to Mares Band 5 races in the future as the pool of mares continues to grow however for now these races will remain with no claims available.
3YO Trotters Races
From May the 3YO Trotting races programmed of a Tuesday will become mobile start events.
This is in preparation for feature races such as Derby, Oaks, Stellar Square and The Great Square during the Constellations Carnival.
Shortly after the Carnival in late July and August the 3YO trotting races will revert to standing starts again for the period leading into the QBRED Triad and Springboard Feature races which are scheduled as standing start events.
April / May
For the two months during April and May RQ will trial:
- Less conditions on races
- Saturday night race field selection on field selection points (excluding races worth $20,000 or more), noting that the Unfulfilled Engagement Rule will not apply.
Please be aware of these changes to the race programs during this period.
From June we will return to the normal race programming procedure whilst we conduct analysis of these temporary changes with analysis to also include the current allocation of field selection points and whether any changes to this allocation should be considered for the future.
Redcliffe Gold Cup
A condition of entry for the $106,070 Redcliffe Gold Cup is that each horse must have had at least one standing start race in the last 8 months to be eligible.
For anyone setting a horse for this race please ensure you are aware of this condition and prepare accordingly to avoid disappointment.
Should nominations allow we intend to hold a Consolation of this race of $21,378.
Garrard’s Showcase Series
The Garrard’s Showcase series will be held at Redcliffe once again in June with Heats to be held on Wednesday June 12 and the $22,408 Final and $11,620 Consolation held on Friday June 21.
To be eligible for the Heats a horse must have had at least one start at any of the following four Regional Show venues:
- Nanango Saturday April 13
- RASQ Toowoomba Saturday April 20
- Kingaroy Saturday May 4
- Gympie Friday May 17
Horses only need to have started at a Regional Show this year, there is no requirement to have started in a Final or on finishing position.
Any horse that competed at any of the above Regional Shows will be guaranteed a start in the Redcliffe Heats on Wednesday June 12.
Programs for all Regional Show venues are available on the HRA website Meeting Calendar.
Show Racing
The Gatton Show will also conduct Show Trotting on Friday July 19. This program is also available on the HRA website Meeting Calendar.
Unfortunately, there will be no Show Racing at the Brisbane Show (Ekka) in 2024 although negotiations for a return in future years have not been ruled out and will be discussed at a date to be fixed.
