Racing Queensland launches Summer Scorcher night series with time bonuses up to $20,000
Eight meetings under lights at Corbould Park and Aquis Park will carry boosted prize money, a $40,000 feature on every card and payments for short-course winners who beat benchmark times.
Racing Queensland will stage an eight-meeting Summer Scorcher Series of night racing at the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast from November 13 to January 22. Standard races will be worth $33,000 to $35,000, with a $40,000 feature on each card.
Winners of selected short-course races will earn a bonus if they beat a benchmark time of 58.00 seconds at Aquis Park or 58.75 seconds at Corbould Park. Payments scale in bands from $2000 to a maximum of $20,000. The top tier requires a run under 57 seconds on the Gold Coast or under 57.75 seconds on the Sunshine Coast.
Bonuses are split 75 per cent to owners, 20 per cent to trainers and 5 per cent to riders, and do not count towards a horse’s prize money record. Dead-heat winners receive the full amount.
“By introducing benchmark time bonuses, we’re also encouraging faster, competitive racing and providing owners, trainers and jockeys with additional opportunities to earn significant prizemoney during the summer period,” acting Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray said.
Six further night meetings follow the finale, each with a $50,000 mini-feature. The Gold Coast’s November 20 Silks Under the Stars meeting adds a $75,000 Open 1200 metres Handicap and hosts the launch of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, which opens on the Sunshine Coast the next day.
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