The Sky Racing Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival (10 January to 7 March 2018) has been officially launched by the Minister for Racing, Jeremy Rockliff.
Tasracing chairman Dean Cooper said the carnival will commence with the 100th running of the Devonport Cup at Spreyton and conclude with the new Sky Racing Australian Female Jockey Championship in Launceston on 7 March.
“This year the Hobart Cup will run on Sunday 11 Febraury while the Launceston Cup will feature on Wednesday 28 February,” he said.
“While we expect interstate horses and their connections to head to Tasmania in the summer, it is pleasing to note that nearly 78 per cent of carnival stakes were won by Tasmanian horses during the previous carnival.
“One of the attractions is the $100,000 Cups Double Bonus which will be offered to any horse that can win both the 2018 Hobart Cup and the 2018 Launceston Cup.
“The cups double bonus is a unique initiative that adds an extra level of excitement and engagement with the carnival’s major races and attracts strong interest from high-profile interstate trainers.”
The 2018 carnival will focus on providing exciting entertainment and hospitality options for young racegoers, racehorse owners and the general public.
In partnership with CUB, Tasracing will present the Stella Artois Young Racing Tasmania Marquee on Devonport, Hobart and Launceston Cup Days.
The carnival also sees an exciting new line-up of entertainment designed to create a destination weekend featuring Derby Day on Friday 9 February, a new Cup Eve live music event at Wrest Point on Saturday night, followed by Cup Day on Sunday 11 February.
Wrest Point, Tasracing, The Tasmanian Racing Club & Hit 100.9 are excited to present Hobart Cup Eve Carnivale featuring The Rubens and Maddy Jane on the Wrest Point Lawns on Saturday 10 February.
Cup Eve Carnivale will be an evening of music from local artists, headlined by Aussie boys ‘The Rubens’ with roaming entertainment, fun activities and of course carnival food and beverage delights. Tickets include entry to the Hobart Cup the following day. Tickets go on sale Monday 18th December at 9am via ticketmaster.com.au.
Mr Cooper said Tasracing, the Tasmanian Racing Club and Wrest Point Hotel Hobart had been working together to make Hobart Cup weekend in Hobart a “destination weekend” for visitors that would deliver flow-on benefits to the local economy.
Mr Cooper also said that for interstate and overseas wagering customers, Tasracing’s new punter website – tasracing.com.au – would provide punters, owners and trainers with the most comprehensive information on every local runner.
“Thanks to our partnership with Tabcorp and Sky Racing, free live streaming of the entire carnival, including expert mounting yard and trackside coverage from racing journalist Peter Staples, will be available to all Australian residents via the website,” he said.
“Tabcorp is Tasracing’s most important partner in terms of racing product distribution through Sky Racing.”
For full 2018 Sky Racing Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival information head to goracingtasmania.com.au