July 31, 2017
The Australian Turf Club has released full race dates for the 2017/18 season, with 114 metropolitan fixtures to be conducted across four Sydney metropolitan racecourses and supporting provincial venues.
Key changes include a revised Sydney Spring Carnival beginning on Saturday 9 September, with Run to the Rose Day at Rosehill Gardens, through to McGrath Estate Agents Melbourne Cup Race Day at Royal Randwick on Tuesday 7 November.
The Group 1 $1 million De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose – Sydney’s Spring Carnival feature three-year-old event – will be run on Saturday 23 September at Rosehill Gardens, a fortnight later than in previous years.
Premium Group 1 racing will extend across five consecutive weeks from Colgate Optic White Stakes Day on Saturday 16 September, with the peak of the Carnival extended to The Everest Race Day on Saturday 14 October.
“These changes to the Sydney Spring Carnival offer an enhanced opportunity for trainers and owners to share in significant increases in prizemoney, with clear pathways towards major Spring targets,” ATC Executive General Manager of Racing James Heddo said.
The opening of the new Inglis sales complex, Riverside Stables, will be celebrated with the return of feature racing to Warwick Farm on Breeders Classic raceday on Saturday 10 February, 2018.
This meeting will be conducted around the Inglis Classic Sale with two Inglis Sales races complementing the high quality program.
“In creating a feature meeting at Warwick Farm at the same time as the Classic sale, breeders and owners from around Australia and the world will join the Western Sydney community on a feature raceday,’’ Mr Heddo said.
The Club hopes to build on a successful night racing season at Canterbury Park with 10 fixtures programmed between 27 October 2017 and concluding 2 March 2018.
“It was pleasing last season to see crowds of up to 4,000 with the addition of feature races and the night markets. By engaging the local community and improving the racing experience we are confident night racing can continue to grow,” Mr Heddo said
A return to racing on the Kensington track will see six race meetings scheduled from Autumn 2018.
A full list of 2017-18 race dates can be downloaded here.