Canberra Carousel to host the Black Opal & Canberra Cup Barrier Draw

The biggest week in Canberra racing is upon us with five exciting events to come in five days across the Canberra Day long weekend. The fun begins on Thursday, 10 March, in an iconic Canberra location with the Live Barrier Draw.

The all-important Barrier Draw will decide the fate of many nervous connections with the public invited to enjoy the spectacle, adjacent to the Canberra Carousel in the City Centre. The Canberra Racing Club will be providing light refreshments to viewers with Chief Executive Officer Andrew Clark excited to take this event to the community.

“It has long been our plan to take this unique event to the City Centre and engage with the Canberra community.” Clark said. “Rain stopped us in 2020 and COVID in 2021 so we’re thrilled for this to be able to take place in 2022.”

The barrier draw will determine which barrier each of the runners in the John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes & TAB Canberra Cup will jump from – a factor that has an enormous influence on the eventual winner of the race.   

Owners of each horse are invited to participate by selecting a from a set of trophies, each with a number on the bottom of it. Once an owner selects a trophy, they present their number to the audience. Their horse is then officially given that barrier for the relevant feature race at Thoroughbred Park a short few days later.

“It really is an interesting event and I encourage those who work around the City Centre to join the fun & enjoy a nice drink and some tasty food on us.” Clark said.

“We’ll have a number of leading Trainers with chances in the feature races have a chat on stage at the conclusion of each draw. You get the raw and honest emotions in the immediate aftermath of their horse’s draw.”

The Canberra Racing Club will be providing food & beverages from 12pm, Thursday 10 March at the Canberra Carousel.