Queensland summer carnival gets boost

Queensland racing officials hope to attract more horses from Sydney and Melbourne for the summer carnival with a $1.6 million bonus plan.

RQ and UBET announced the bonus scheme on Wednesday and hope it will focus national racing attention on Queensland.

There will be $500,000 bonuses, known as the Queensland Summer Crowns, for any horse that wins three stipulated races in the open sprinter class, two-year-old and three-year-old races.

There will also be a $100,000 bonus for any horse that wins both the Group Two Villiers Stakes in Sydney and the Bernborough Handicap.

The Bernborough is one of the oldest races in Queensland but it has struggled to attract interstate interest in recent years.

RQ chief executive, Dr Eliot Forbes, said he expected the bonuses would attract significant interest from owners and trainers.

“The Queensland Summer Crown races will be run during meetings on December 3 and 31 at Eagle Farm, and December 17 at Doomben,” Forbes said.

“It will play a major lead-up role to Australia’s richest race day, the $10 Million Magic Millions in January 2014.”