After the autumn action in Sydney and Melbourne, all eyes turn to Brisbane for the Winter Racing Carnival. Home to Queensland’s most esteemed thoroughbred races, the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival serves plenty of excitement and intrigue across the cooler months.
The bulk of the action takes place in Brisbane between mid-May and late June, with hosting duties shared by the iconic racecourses of Doomben and Eagle Farm. 8 Group One races make up the schedule as some of the best horses from Australia and beyond compete for glory.
Millions of dollars in prize money are on the line, with feature races including the Stradbroke Handicap and the Doomben 10,000. Just like the teams competing in the events, punters can win big on the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with some well-placed betting.
Key events for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival
The biggest events in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival are held over the course of five consecutive weekends in May and June. During this period, many of the world’s best horses, jockeys and trainers converge on Brisbane to fight for fame and fortune.
Doomben 10,000 Day
The Doomben 10,000 is the first Group One race to take place in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Held on a Saturday in mid-May, the event kicks off the winter proceedings in style with a 1,200m sprint at Doomben Racecourse under weight-for-age conditions.
No less than $1 million is up for grabs, making this one of the Winter Carnival’s most lucrative races. Previous winners of note include Black Onyx in 1969 and 1970, Falvelon in 2001 and 2002 and the legendary Manikato in 1979.
Doomben Cup Day
Doomben remains the centre of attention the following weekend for Doomben Cup Day. The Group Two The Roses and the Group Three BRC Sprint set the stage for the $1 million Doomben Cup, a Group One highlight held over 2000m at weight-for-age conditions.
The Doomben Cup has a rich history in Australian racing and dates back to 1933. Prominent former winners include Rough Habit, who secured an unprecedented three wins in a row between 1991 and 1993 and Might and Power, who won here in 1998 having completed the Cups double in Melbourne in dramatic circumstances the previous spring. More recently, the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki obliterated the field to win by a massive seven lengths in 2021.
Kingsford-Smith Cup Day
The focus shifts to Eagle Farm at the turn of the month with the arrival of Kingsford-Smith Cup Day. Another key date on the winter racing schedule, Kingsford-Smith Cup day treats racing fans to several big-money events, including two Group One races.
The Queensland Derby is a 2400m set weight race for three-year-old thoroughbreds. It’s followed by the main event of the day, the Kingsford-Smith Cup, which takes place over 1200m at weight-for-age conditions. More than $3 million in prize money is in the combined purse.
Ladies’ Oaks Day
Ladies’ Day is held on the first Saturday of June at Eagle Farm. Glamorous outfits, live entertainment and several big races make for an exciting atmosphere. The key support race on the card is the Group Two Moreton Cup, held over 1200m under open handicap conditions.
The action culminates in the Group One Queensland Oaks, a 2400m race for three-year-old fillies at set weights. $700,000 in prize money sits in the purse, with previous winners including Triscay, Ethereal and Winx.
Stradbroke Day
Stradbroke Day, held on the second Saturday of June, is the most important date on the winter racing calendar. Home to the richest race of the season and an excellent supporting cast that includes the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes, Stradbroke Day rarely fails to deliver.
The penultimate race of the day, the 1400m Stradbroke Handicap, sees some of the world’s best sprinters take to the turf with $1.5 million up for grabs. The race dates back to 1890 and boasts a star-studded list of champions that includes the likes of Rough Habit and Black Piranha.
Betting options for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival
At Unibet, you can follow all the action from the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. We cover a wide range of markets, so you can be sure to find the perfect bet regardless of your strategy or risk appetite.
Win bet
The simplest and most popular type of horse racing bet, a win bet is placed on the horse you expect to win the race. This is a great way for casual fans to get involved in the action and make a healthy profit on a successful bet.
Place bet
A place bet is another fixed bet that pays out if your horse finishes in the top two or three positions. This depends on the number of horses competing in the race and will always be stated when placing your bet.
Exotics bets
Exotics bets are more complicated, and are generally preferred by experienced punters looking to land a bigger payout. Exotics bets can be vertical, meaning you bet on the finishing order of an individual race, or horizontal, where you bet on the outcomes of consecutive races.
Betting advice for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival
A little research can go a long way in horse racing betting. Follow our blog for all the latest updates ahead of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival’s key races.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when placing your bets:
- Find out who’s in form. Previous results from the Autumn Racing Carnival will give you a good idea of the horses to look out for in the winter months.
- Expect wet tracks. Unlike Australia’s other racing carnivals, less favourable weather conditions mean the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival is primarily run on wet tracks.
- Think about jockeys and trainers. As with the horses, some trainers and jockeys may be especially suited to the unique conditions of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
All the latest racing tips are covered on the blog. Customers can also draw on detailed form guides to improve their decision-making. Unibet offers the best odds on the market for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, so you can be certain of a healthy return for a well-placed bet.