The lids ping on 2024

Caption: Travis Elson and Bear’s Bullet after victory in the QGOLD Summer Sprint Final (520m). (Photo: Box 1 Photography

By Racing Queensland CEO JASON SCOTT

A warm welcome to each and every one of our readers to 2024.

January is shaping as a momentous month for the greyhound code in Queensland.

The Golden Greys Summer Carnival is in full swing, with feature racing taking centre stage over the coming weeks, starting with the running of both the Group 2 Queensland Derby and the Bogie Leigh Futurity on January 4 – each now worth $112,500, up from $75,000.

The meeting will also feature the Golden Sands, with Queensland’s premier middle distance event now boasting Group 1 status and an impressive $150,000 in prizemoney including $100,000 to the winner.

Also elevated to Group 2 status and $100,000 prize money, the Golden Ticket on January 18 will again act as the ideal lead-up to the Gold Bullion, with the winner receiving automatic entry into the $375,000 Final a fortnight later.

The heats of the Golden Ticket will be conducted as four-dog shootouts, with the Final conducted as two-dog match races – the winner determined by fastest time.

The Carnival’s penultimate evening will also feature the Group 1 $150,000 Gold Cup for stayers on February 1.

There’ll be added incentive from trainers too, with any greyhound that places first, second or third in the final of a Summer Carnival lead-up event, and subsequently wins a heat of either the Gold Bullion or Gold Cup, to earn a $10,000 prize money bonus.

This year’s Summer Carnival again includes the Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial, Australia’s richest maiden greyhound race, with prizemoney boosted to $112,500 this year.

The Vince Curry Memorial will act as the Carnival’s closing night on February 3, which was taken out by the Adam Mcintosh-trained Elisheba last season.

Jay Is Jay takes out the Queensland Flame

The Carnival started off with a bang, following Queensland superstar Jay Is Jay’s scintillating victory in the $90,000 Group 3 Queensland Flame.  

As a result, Jay went through to represent Queensland in the $1.65 million The Phoenix – the world’s richest greyhound race.

Jay has been a revelation for the sport here in the Sunshine State, with his recent victory in the famous Million Dollar Chase solidifying his stature as one of the nation’s best chasers.

At the same time, victory in The Phoenix will see Jay take the mantle as Australia’s highest ever stakes earner.

By the time this column goes to print, The Phoenix will have been run and won, but we wish Jay and the entire Zammit all the very best of luck!

QGOLD night a success

A primary focus of this year’s Golden Greys Summer Carnival remains celebrating Queensland-bred greyhounds, and it was fantastic to see the return of the QGOLD meeting which was once again well-supported by our participants.

QGOLD Night featured almost $250,000 in prizemoney across a variety of classes and distances, headlined by Ipswich Cup winner Bear’s Bullet claiming the QGOLD Summer Sprint.

Meanwhile, the Zammit name continued to shine at Albion Park, as Tony took out the 600-metre QGOLD Summer Chase thanks to Go Bing.

We’re pleased to see the QGOLD concept now becoming a regular occurrence on the calendar state-wide. 

Vital funds raised during Pink Ribbon Raceweek

Finally, the Sky Racing Pink Ribbon Raceweek has again proven to be a success, with close to $400,000 raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The week included a special race meet across all three codes to raise money for breast cancer research, with the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club hosting their meeting on September 14, along with harness racing at Albion Park and the thoroughbred meeting at the Gold Coast Turf Club, both on September 16.

The Sunshine Coast Turf Club also turned pink for its meeting on September 17.

Starting in 2008, the Pink Ribbon Cup remains Australia’s largest official community fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in Australia, with 57 women and men diagnosed every day – and one in seven women being diagnosed in their lifetime. The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s goal is zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.

The Pink Ribbon Raceweek is also made possible by the ongoing support from Sky Racing.

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