Racing Queensland has announced the dates for its 2017 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, including the 2017 Australasian Young Drivers Championship and the groundbreaking 'Women's Only' Drivers night at Albion Park.
More than $200,000 in feature prize money will be up for grabs between November 25 and December 16, 2017.
The Carnival will be held over four action-packed race nights at the inner-city track, culminating in the $60,000 Queensland Cup (2138m) for the pacers, and the $40,000 DJ Alexander Memorial Trot Final (2647m) on December 16.
The feature race action gets under way on November 25 with the $20,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2138m – M0 or better), followed by the $30,000 Group 3 Be Good Johnny Sprint (1660m – M0 or better) and the $20,000 Forever Gold Mares (1660m – M0 or better mares) on December 2.
Trainers and owners also have the chance to be part of history when Albion Park Harness Racing Club (APHRC) hosts the first ever 'Women's Only' Drivers night on November 18.
Champion drivers Kerryn Manning, Kate Gath and Amanda Turnbull are set to join the likes of Queenslanders Brittany Graham, Dani-elle and Narissa McMullen and Lola Weidemann for the innovative feature meeting.
Starting on December 12, the best young drivers from across Australia and New Zealand will arrive in Brisbane for the Australasian Young Drivers Championship. Brisbane-based Narissa McMullen said she was excited by the prospect of representing Queensland on home soil.
“It is different racing. I think when young people get together and are all in the same race it can be unusual. Sometimes it’s a little more aggressive, which means I’m sure we’ll put on a great show for the punters,” she said.
Racing Queensland General Manager of Racing Simon Stout said the carnival provided the ideal platform for horses who may not be travelling across the Nullabor to Perth for the Inter Dominion Series.
“While many of the nation’s best will battling it out in Perth, the Queensland carnival offers alternate feature race opportunities leading into New South Wales’ and Victoria’s January and February Carnivals,” he said.
For additional information about key events during the 2017 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, visit www.racingqueensland.com.au/harness.
2017 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival Feature Schedule
| Race |
Stakes |
Class |
Distance |
Date |
| Lord Mayors Cup MS |
$20,000 |
M0 or Better |
2138m |
25 Nov 17 |
| Be Good Johnny Sprint MS |
$30,000 |
M0 or Better (Group 3) |
1660m |
2 Dec 17 |
| Forever Gold Mares MS |
$20,000 |
M0 or Better (Mares) |
1660m |
2 Dec 17 |
| Christmas Cup MS |
$20,000 |
M0 or Better |
2680m |
9 Dec 17 |
| Queensland Cup MS |
$60,000 |
M0 or Better |
2138m |
16 Dec 17 |
| DJ Alexander Memorial Trot Final MS*** |
$40,000 |
T5 or Better (Disc HCP) |
2647m |
16 Dec 17 |
*** For horses that qualified from two rounds of heats on 1 and 8 December 2017.
