DOOMBEN RACES
Every year the city of Brisbane is host to an elite range of races held just outside the CBD at the picturesque City Pacific Doomben racecourse. Managed by the Brisbane Turf Club (BTC), the major Doomben races take place during the BTC’s Winter Racing Carnival from the end of April through until June. Aside from the Brisbane Winter Carnival, Doomben also hosts a Summer Racing Carnival in December through until January of the following year. There are also exciting race meetings held at Doomben all throughout the year. A range of Saturday and midweek racing events keep a steady stream of spectators and punters attending and enjoying quality Doomben races every week.
Often referred to as the Garden Racecourse, City Pacific Doomben boasts a beautiful display of gardens and lush grounds and was opened in 1933. Every year, there are an average of 46 race meetings held there, 24 Saturday meets, two Public Holiday events and 20 mid-week race days. For race days held outside of the Winter Carnival, the start time of the first event is usually around 11:45am – 12:30 and crowds are kept entertained by up to eight races run 30-40 minutes apart. The pace of the day is fast, both on the track and off-field!
DOOMBEN RACES – WINTER CARNIVAL RACEDAYS-
Doomben’s key Winter Carnival race days are the BTC Cup Day, Doomben Cup Day, Doomben 10 000 Day and the George Moore Stakes Day. These are the most highly bet on, attended and esteemed Doomben races for which the racecourse is most famous for and are home to all but two of Doomben’s Group status events.
BTC CUP DAY:
BTC Cup Day is held on the second Saturday in May. Sponsored by Jacob’s Creek Sparkling, the feature race of the day is the Group 1 BTC Cup. Other events to follow include the Group 3 Doomben Classic and the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap.
BTC Cup:
Status: Group 1
Distance: 1200m
Stakes: $400 000
Qualifications: Weight-for-age
Doomben Classic:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1615m
Stakes: $125 000
Qualifications: 3YO – Set Weights
Chairman’s Handicap:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 2120m
Stakes: $100 000
Qualifications: Quality Handicap
DOOMBEN CUP DAY:
Taking place on the third Saturday in May, the Doomben Cup Day is sponsored by XXXX Gold. The highlight event is the Group 1 Doomben Cup. There are five other excellent black type races also held on this day including the Group 2 Champagne Stakes, and the Group 3 Doomben Roses, BTC Sprint, BTC Classic and Lord Mayors Cup.
Doomben Cup:
Status: Group 1
Distance: 2020m
Stakes: $500 000
Qualifications: Weight-for-age
Champagne Stakes:
Status: Group 2
Distance: 1200m
Stakes: $150 000
Qualifications: 2YO – Set Weights
Doomben Roses:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 2020m
Stakes: $175 000
Qualifications: 3YO Fillies – Set Weights
BTC Sprint:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1350m
Stakes: $125 000
Qualifications: Quality Handicap
BTC Classic:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1350m
Stakes: $125 000
Qualifications: 3YO – Set Weights
Lord Mayors Cup:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1615m
Stakes: $100 000
Qualifications: Weight-for-age
DOOMBEN 10, 000 DAY:
Sponsored by Carlton Draught, the Doomben 10 000 Day is held on a Saturday towards the end of May. The showcase race of the meet is the Group 1 Doomben 10 000. The two other events both have Group 3 status, the Premier’s Cup and Rough Habit Plate.
Doomben 10 000:
Status: Group 1
Distance: 1350m
Stakes: $650 000
Qualifications: Weight-for-age
Premier’s Cup:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 2200m
Stakes: $125 000
Qualifications: Open Handicap
Rough Habit Plate:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 2020m
Stakes: $125 000
Qualifications: 3YO – Set Weights
DOOMBEN RACES – SUMMER CARNIVAL RACEDAYS-
GEORGE MOORE STAKES DAY:
The George Moore Stakes Day is held on a Saturday in early December and kicks of the Doomben Summer Racing Carnival. The highest status race of the day is the Group 3 George Moore Stakes, formally known as the Summer Stakes, and it is the only Group event at the meeting. The other race of the day is the listed Mode Plate.
George Moore Stakes:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1200m
Stakes: $200 000
Qualifications: Quality Handicap
BOXING DAY RACES:
Held on the 26th of December each year, the Boxing Day races have always been a popular Doomben event, but up until 2009 never featured a Group status race. Run on this day, the Vo Rogue Plate was once a listed race, but was elevated to Group 3 status for the first time in 2009. Held along with the Bernborough Handicap and B.J. McLachlan Stakes, both listed races, the Vo Rogue Plate is the final Group race of the year for Doomben.
Vo Rogue Plate:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1350m
Stakes: $150 000
Qualifications: 3YO – Set Weights
DOOMBEN RACES – OTHER MAJOR RACEDAYS-
Although these race days feature no Group events, there are still plenty of thrilling and competitive events to give you your racing fix at these great Doomben meetings.
January: Australia Day Races.
March: Family Raceday, Sita Environmental Raceday.
April: The Good Guys Girls’ Day Out.
October: Urban Brisbane Cox Plate Raceday, Padua College Derby Day.
November: VRC Oaks Day, Zig Zag Foundation Raceday.
DOOMBEN RACES – LIST OF RACES BY GROUP STATUS-
Group 1:
BTC Cup
Doomben Cup
Doomben 10 000
Group 2:
Champagne Classic
Group 3:
Doomben Classic
Chairman’s Handicap
Doomben Roses
BTC Sprint
BTC Classic
Lord Mayors Cup
Premier’s Cup
Rough Habit Plate
George Moore Stakes
Vo Rogue Plate
