NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, George Souris, today joined Racing NSW Chairman John Messara and Australian Turf Club Chairman John Cornish at Bondi Beach to officially launch the 2012 BMW Sydney Carnival.
19 March 2012“I’m very pleased to join our partners to mark the beginning of the 2012 BMW Sydney Carnival.
“Starting on 24 March with Myer Ladies Day at Rosehill Gardens, the Carnival will take us right through to 28 April with Schweppes Sydney Cup Day.
“Sydney Carnival is a highlight on Australia’s racing calendar, held in the birthplace of Australian racing, in Australia’s leading events and tourism city.
“The NSW Government, through Destination NSW, has joined with Racing NSW, the Australian Turf Club, Tabcorp and Inglis to reconfigure, develop and position the BMW Sydney Carnival as a signature event on the NSW Events Calendar.
“Together with our partners, we are working to make our Carnival the best thoroughbred racing and sales event in the Southern Hemisphere.
“We are creating history by uniting racing and breeding events of this scale and prestige.
“With 40 group races and more than $20 million prize money over six consecutive Saturdays, the BMW Sydney Carnival offers spectacular entertainment on and off the track.
“AAMI Golden Slipper Day and David Jones Australian Derby Day now represent the best consecutive days’ racing in the Southern Hemisphere with all races on those days at least Group 3 in status.
“The on-track action at the BMW Sydney Carnival is also complemented by the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where champions of all shapes and sizes have paraded beneath Newmarket’s famous fig tree for over a century.
“This year brings us some new developments, with BMW Australia as naming rights sponsor and Randwick’s reconstruction well underway.
“The Randwick re-development will ensure that everyone connected with the racing industry - owners, trainers, jockeys, stable workers and the public will have modern, state-of-the-art facilities.
“The ‘Theatre of the Horse’ will be a major feature of the re-development, allowing thousands of on-track punters to get up close to the runners, their trainers and jockeys.
“Royal Randwick is situated on the doorstep of Australia’s leading tourism and events city and this extensive rebuilding project will not only benefit race day crowds but help to drive tourism visitation to the new purpose built sporting, recreation and event facilities.
“We can look forward to these facilities being operational in time for the 2013 Sydney Carnival.
“Racing is a significant industry for this State, employing 50,000 people and injecting $1 billion a year into the economy. It is imperative we have world class facilities for all racing participants.
“The NSW Government can proudly say the BMW Sydney Carnival holds a clear and significant place on the NSW Events Calendar.
“It is events like the Carnival that ensure that Sydney, the gateway to Australia and NSW, remains number one when it comes to hosting major events in this country,” Minister Souris said.
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