Ready to race

With the Townsville North Queensland Winter Racing Carnival set to hit the track late July, we caught up with the carnival’s new event manager Sam Pascoe to find out what’s in store.

Horse racing isn’t all about the thrill of the run and the rush of the punt (although that’s certainly the allure for many of us). When it comes to the North Qld Winter Racing Carnival’s key events – Ladies Day and the Mater Townsville Cup – the festivities are as much about fashion, fun and socialising as they are about the punting.

And this year, Townsville’s Winter Racing Carnival will deliver more – more colour, more theming, more ticketing options, more bang for your buck.

Carnival event manager Sam Pascoe says the 2018 events have been designed around ‘enhancing experience’ for everyone who walks through the front gate.

For The Mater Townsville Cup Race day, there are three new ticketed spaces within the traditional GA area: Little Green Lawns, Winning Post Lawns, and The Tribe, which is located in the gardens.

“The Little Green Lawns space, located trackside, will include its own bar, lawn games and designated toilets,” says Sam. “The Winning Post Lawns is, of course, located at the winning post, so guests can really experience the thrill of the horses crossing the finish line and see the sweat as they hit the winning stalls.

“The third new ticketed area within the GA area is ‘The Tribe’ where you can get ‘Wild and Free’ with big screens showing the races. This will be a really fun, creative space; a DJ from Sydney, its own bar and food service areas, pop-up flower crown station, a henna artist and someone to put feathers in your hair.”

Within the traditional GA space, Guests will be met with public bars, bookies and a Calanna beauty bar for touch ups. There will be a brand new corporate marquee launching at the Mater Townsville Cup called The Society, this will be socialising  heaven. And don’t forget the Trackside Canadian Club Chill Zone.

“The question we asked ourselves when planning the 2018 events was, ‘how can we add value to everyone’s experience?’ Last year the Carnival had fantastic numbers, so we want to build on that.”

Both the Little Greens Lawn and the Winning Post Lawn will be at Ladies Day too. “Another exciting element for Ladies Day this year, is we’re moving the Fashions of the Field out of a corporate marquee and into its own dedicated precinct complete with DJ, and it is accessible to all.”

The Nth QLD Winter Racing Carnival will have something for everyone – regardless of whether or not you know a mudlark from a swooper. See you at the track.

Carnival Launch at The Ville-Resort Casino
Friday 20 July

Ladies Race Day
Saturday 21 July

Townsville UBET Guineas Race Day
Thursday 26 July

The Mater Townsville Cup
Saturday 28 July

Tickets launch 1 June 2018
townsvilleturfclub.com.au