Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Magic Millions Raceday, already the only raceday in the Southern Hemisphere to stage eight million-dollar plus races on one card, will receive additional funds beginning next year.
Highlights of the announcement
2023 - Magic Millions Raceday prizemoney increases to $11.75 million.
2024 - Total Magic Millions Raceday prizemoney will increase to $14.25 million.
2024 - Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas prizemoney increasing to $3 million each.
2024 - The new $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000 metres) to be run on the Gold Coast during the Magic Millions National Sale in May.
2025 - The introduction of Friday night racing will include a new $3 million slot race exclusively for 3-year-old sprinters over 1100 metres, to be held the night before the renowned raceday.
Two-year plan
Most notably, Magic Millions Raceday’s two premier events, the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and R. Listed Magic Million 3YO Guineas, will each see an increase of $1 million in 2024, and will be run for $3 million apiece. A new $3 million slot race will also be introduced in 2025 as part of an expanded night racing program, which will be open to 3-year-old sprinters over 1100 metres, and will not be restricted to Magic Millions graduates.
Already underway, the $63 million upgrade to the Gold Coast Turf Club will include broadcast-quality lighting which will see the Club host a new, floodlit feature race meeting in May 2024, headlined by the brand new $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, run over 1000 metres.
The development will also facilitate an additional feature meeting the night before the Magic Millions Raceday, which will begin on Friday, January 10, 2025, and will consist of a six-race program worth $5.25 million.
The highlight of that program will undoubtedly be the new slot race for 3-year-old sprinters, but the introduction of the meeting as a whole will make it Australia’s richest night meeting, and create an unprecedented 24 hours of racing as it brings the total prizemoney available across the Magic Millions weekend up to $20 million.
Included in that increase is a doubling of prizemoney for the Magic Millions Cup, which will be worth $2 million from 2025, and a $500,000 increase for the Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open, taking it to $1.5 million.
Brendan Parnell, chief executive officer of Racing Queensland | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Prizemoney across Australia has climbed ever higher in recent years as a tacit battle has played out between the nation’s major racing states. But aside from the lucrative offerings announced on Sunday, racing in Queensland provides a unique entertainment according to Brendan Parnell, Chief Executive Officer of Racing Queensland.
“We like to be different,” he told TDN AusNZ. “We like to leverage this amazing weather and the beautiful backdrop of the beach. We’re in a position to innovate. The creation this year of the biggest ownership race in the world, The Syndicate, is different, and it gives mass participation a really big carrot to chase.
“We’ll continue to innovate and look for different ways to do things. We’ll look for gaps in The Pattern and the calendar to create new products, and that’s why we’re creating two new carnival meetings under lights at the Gold Coast.
“We’ll continue to innovate and look for different ways to do things. We’ll look for gaps in The Pattern and the calendar to create new products, and that’s why we’re creating two new carnival meetings under lights at the Gold Coast.” - Brendan Parnell
“Have a look around here and you’ll see people coming to spend a lot of time on the Gold Coast to savour the atmosphere.”
What it means for Magics
For Barry Bowditch, managing director at Magic Millions, the announcement marks a continued drive from the Bundall-based team to develop racing in the state, and he was quick to credit the various stakeholders involved.
Speaking to TDN AusNZ, Bowditch said: “For Racing Queensland and all of our partners to work with us in the way they do is the starting point - that gives us the scope to achieve something like this.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I think what Racing Queensland, us at Magic Millions and the (Gold Coast) Turf Club have achieved - from offering the first $10-million day seven years ago to building on that with innovations and tweaks such as The Debut and The Syndicate and now going next level with this new announcement - it’s very exciting!
“You’ve got to be proud of bringing these things together. I think the team here at Magic Millions have thought long and hard about how we can make it bigger and better each year. Gerry (Harvey) and Katie (Page-Harvey) are outward thinkers, they want to do things to the highest degree… They help bring these ideas to fulfilment.
“In particular, $20 million over 24 hours is pretty unique, it’s fun and I think it will really resonate with our clientele… Obviously, for Magic Millions it’s great for our clients, but for the industry itself here in Queensland it’s really, really positive.”
Testament to Magic Millions’ commitment to the wider industry is that the new $3 million slotholder feature race coming 2025 will be open to all 3-year-olds, and not restricted only to graduates of their sales.
“In particular, $20 million over 24 hours is pretty unique, it’s fun and I think it will really resonate with our clientele… Obviously, for Magic Millions it’s great for our clients, but for the industry itself here in Queensland it’s really, really positive.” - Barry Bowditch
“I think it’s great to be able to bring the industry together,” Bowditch said. “To have something of that level for a 3-year-old sprint race in this country is great. Obviously, we have some outstanding races across Australia, but to have one of those, in the summer, here at the Gold Coast is very unique.
“We sell a lot of those types of horses, so I’d expect plenty of Magic Millions graduates to be in that race, but it’s great to create an open race and do something for the whole of the game.
“We hope we have good participation from our graduates but it’s not about that, it’s about doing something for the game.”
The impacts of prizemoney
Echoing that sentiment was Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page-Harvey, who is also one of the driving forces behind the Harvey Norman business. Present with husband Gerry Harvey at the press release on Sunday, Page-Harvey pointed to the positive, industry-wide implications of the announcement, which also included boosts to prizemoney in Central and North Queensland.
Katie Page-Harvey and Gerry Harvey | Image courtesy of Gerry Harvey
“Thoroughbred industry sustainability is strengthened by delivering wide-reaching prizemoney opportunities to all racing participants,” Page-Harvey said.
“Whether you are a syndicate member, a first-time owner, live in the country or the city, everyone should be able to qualify for prizemoney returns from Magic Millions races.
“Today's announcement from Magic Millions and Racing Queensland creates and builds those compelling opportunities through the introduction of new races, prizemoney increases and greater options for participation.”
Sunday’s announcement began with an address from Queensland’s Minister for Racing Grace Grace MP, who was drawn to highlight the wider economic impact of ever-increasing local investment in horseracing.
“Today's (Sunday's) announcement from Magic Millions and Racing Queensland creates and builds those compelling opportunities through the introduction of new races, prizemoney increases and greater options for participation.” - Katie Page-Harvey
“This is an event that supports good jobs and enhances the great lifestyle we live here in Queensland,” she said.
“I’m thrilled to see crowds converging on the Coast for all the great events, like today’s polo and showjumping, the barrier draw, the yearling sale and – of course – The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday.
“The Magic Millions has an economic contribution of more than $42 million. It brings in 19,000 unique visitors from interstate and overseas and more than 84,000 bed nights are booked over the 14 days of the Carnival and National Sale.”
