Gold Coast’s Night Racing Set to Shine

The Gold Coast Turf Club is gearing up for history in the making as it launches its first-ever night racing event, TAB Silks Under The Stars, on Friday, December 20. According to racingqueensland.com.au, This groundbreaking evening marks the start of the largest Summer Carnival the Gold Coast has ever seen, running through to January 24. To commemorate the milestone, the club is offering free general admission tickets and has unveiled the $125,000 TAB GC1000 for 3YOs, featuring a $50,000 Surfers Sizzler bonus for any horse breaking the 1000m track record. Adding to the excitement, six races on the program carry mid-week metropolitan-level prize money, with $90,000 in bonuses for trainers and jockeys, including a $10,000 trainer bonus and a $5,000 jockey bonus. Supported by Racing Queensland, the night’s highlight will be the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut for unraced 2YOs. Off the track, fans can expect dazzling light shows and lively entertainment. Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines expressed enthusiasm about the event, saying, “It is going to be an exciting occasion for the club, and we are expecting a big crowd on track to witness history.” Lines highlighted the significance of the $73 million redevelopment, including new state-of-the-art lighting, which was successfully tested during an October twilight meeting. “This marks the start of a new era as we strive to become Queensland’s second metropolitan club. Night racing presents an exciting opportunity to market the Gold Coast to interstate and international visitors,” he added. The Silks Under The Stars event is one of two night meetings during the revamped Summer Carnival, the second scheduled for January 24 ahead of the Australia Day long weekend. More than 2,000 people have already pre-registered for tickets, while limited corporate packages for the Christmas Festive Feast remain available at $200 per person. The Gold Coast’s Summer Carnival promises to deliver its most spectacular festival yet, blending thrilling races with unforgettable entertainment.

Gold Coast Night Racing is likely to be highly popular (pic: Racing Queensland)