Tasmania ready for summer of plenty
The Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival has officially launched, with a program of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound events to run across the state until late February.
The festival opened with Durazzo’s win in the $150,000 Listed Tasmanian Newmarket Handicap on November 21, and will conclude on February 28 with the Group 1 Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup for harness racing in Hobart.
Feature races include the $250,000 Hobart and Launceston Cups for thoroughbreds, the Group 1 Ladbrokes Hobart Thousand and Ladbrokes Launceston Cup for greyhounds, and harness highlights such as The Golden Apple and the Hobart and Devonport Cups.
Tasracing chief executive Andrew Jenkins said the program was designed to showcase all regions.
“It is clearly very important that we position ourselves as a statewide industry to the national market,” he said, noting more than 10,000 people attended country race days last year at Longford, St Marys, Scottsdale and Burnie.
Entain Australia chief executive Andrew Vouris said Ladbrokes’ sponsorship aimed to strengthen the sport.
“Our investment in Tasmanian racing is not just about putting our name on a race. It is about helping build a product that engages punters, supports participants and showcases the very best of Tasmanian racing,” he said.
The festival also includes yearling sales at Quercus Park in Carrick and a community sports series distributing nearly $80,000 to local clubs.
