Every year the city of Brisbane is host to an elite range of races held just outside the CBD at the picturesque Doomben Racecourse.
Managed by the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC), the major Doomben races take place during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival in May.
Aside from the Brisbane Winter Carnival, Doomben also hosts a number of exciting Group races during the summer racing season in December.
A range of Saturday and midweek racing events keep a steady stream of spectators and punters attending and enjoying quality Doomben races every week.
One of Queensland’s two metro racecourses, Doomben is home to over 50 race meetings every year.
Doomben Races – Winter Carnival Racedays
Doomben’s key Winter Carnival race days are the BTC Cup Day, Doomben Cup Day and Doomben 10, 000 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 a Saturday in mid-May. Currently sponsored by Bundaberg Distilling Co., the feature race of the day is the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m). Other events to follow at the meeting, which kicks off Group 1 racing in Queensland for the season, include the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (202m) and the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2020m).
BTC Cup:
Status: Group 1
Distance: 1200m
Stakes: $400,000
Qualifications: Weight-for-age
Rough Habit Plate:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 2020m
Stakes: $125,000
Qualifications: 3YO – Set Weights
Chairman’s Handicap:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 2020m
Stakes: $115,000
Qualifications: Quality Handicap
DOOMBEN CUP DAY:
Taking place on the third Saturday in May, Doomben Cup Day is currently sponsored by Kirks and is considered the family raceday of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
The highlight event is the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m), but there are plenty other excellent black type races also held on this day including the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m), Group 3 Doomben Roses (2020m) and the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m).
Doomben Cup:
Status: Group 1
Distance: 2020m
Stakes: $500,000
Qualifications: Weight-for-age
Champagne Classic:
Status: Group 2
Distance: 1200m
Stakes: $175,000
Qualifications: 2YO – Set Weights
Doomben Roses:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 2020m
Stakes: $175,000
Qualifications: 3YO Fillies – Set Weights
BRC Sprint:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1350m
Stakes: $125,000
Qualifications: Quality Handicap
Fred Best Classic:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1350m
Stakes: $125,000
Qualifications: 3YO – Set Weights
Lord Mayor’s Cup:
Status: Group 3
Distance: 1615m
Stakes: $115,000
Qualifications: Weight-for-age
DOOMBEN 10, 000 DAY:
Sponsored by Carlton Mid, 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 (1350m). The other leading event at the meeting is the Group 3 Premier’s Cup.
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
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
