Revamped Canberra Racing calendar to include four Saturday meetings

The Canberra Racing Club will introduce a revamped 25-day racing calendar in 2023/2024 including an exciting four Saturday race days.

Canberra Racing Club Chief Executive Darren Pearce said, “We are focused on growing within our community and are excited to secure these opportunities to showcase racing and our events at more accessible times”

“Our solitary Saturday race meeting in 2022 was extremely well received by Members and race-goers so the opportunity to innovate and create some exciting new events is one we had to jump at.”

The second Hops & Hooves Festival Race Day will be held on Saturday, 23 September 2023 with the beer festival expanded to include the best wineries and distilleries from the region.

“Canberra is really proud of its artisan producers. We strive to showcase the best of the Canberra region and this event connects this mantra with our first class Thoroughbred racing.”

Saturdays in late November and late January will be implemented in the Canberra Racing calendar with significant announcements due for both race days in coming weeks. The announcements will include the introduction of a new Spring feature headlined by an exciting innovation race and a partnership with one of Canberra’s favourite brands.

A race day on Saturday, 1 June 2024 will join John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes Race Day on Sunday, 10 March 2024 on the Canberra Day long weekend and Canberra Southern Cross Club Tuggeranong Cup Race Day on Good Friday (29 March 2024) as feature race days in the annual calendar.

The revamped calendar will see the Canberra Racing Carnival condensed into one Super Sunday with Black Opal Stakes Race Day to become Canberra’s first million-dollar race day.

An exciting proposition for racing fans and the Canberra community, the bumper 10-race program will feature four Stakes races including the Group 3 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (1200m) and Listed TAB Canberra Cup (2000m) as well as a revitalised customer experience befitting this major Canberra event.

The Club will provide themed race days throughout the season to add value to our customers at Thoroughbred Park and to entice new fans to Thoroughbred racing.

Thoroughbred Park next hosts racing on Friday, 21 July with Red Wine & Racing Race Day as a highlight in our Winter Warmers series.