Night racing returns to Launceston on 16 September marking the start of a 22-meeting season.
The season runs until the end of April and includes 12 Friday night meetings, headlined by the Listed Tasmanian Newmarket on 20 November which also marks the start of the Ladbrokes Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival
Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said night racing continued to be popular with punters and generated strong returns for Tasmanian racing.
“Average turnover generated per meeting last financial year was $5.579 million,” he said.
“These results will be assisted further going forward as Tasracing has secured free-to-air coverage for several Launceston night meetings on Racing.com.”
The Ladbrokes Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival incorporates all three codes and runs through to the Launceston Cup for thoroughbreds on Wednesday, 24 February.
The festival will also feature the state’s two Group 1 races in consecutive weeks, with the Ladbrokes Hobart Thousand for greyhounds on 10 December and the Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup for harness on 19 December. The Tasmania Cup has traditionally been run in late February / early March.
Thoroughbred racing will remain a major summer drawcard through the three feature cups.
Mr Jenkins said The Clover Hill Cup marquee would return across all three major thoroughbred cups.
“The marquees are designed to bring together trackside hospitality, Tasmanian food and wine and the atmosphere of cup day,” he said.
“On the track, Tasmanian jockey Craig Newitt will be chasing an incredible 10th win in the Devonport Cup when the race is run on Wednesday, 6 January 2027.
“In the same race, trainer Glenn Stevenson will be seeking a fourth successive win.
“The Country Cups at Longford, St Mary’s, Scottsdale and Burnie are also expected to attract strong crowds and remain a highlight of the festival.”
The state’s yearling sales will both be conducted in February, with thoroughbreds on 15 February and harness on 27 February, both at Quercus Park, Carrick.
Mr Jenkins said both sales would be looking to build on positive results from this year.
Community engagement will continue to be a feature of the festival through the Ladbrokes Community Sports Series (LCSS) and The Dynamo, which have connected with more than 80 sports and community clubs and contributed $85,000 in prizes.
The Dynamo will be run in Hobart in November and the LCSS will be running in conjunction with the three thoroughbred cups.
Clubs are invited to enter a draw to be selected to have a horse running in their name in the Dynamo for harness and in each of the thoroughbred cups.
Mr Jenkins said promoting Tasmanian racing to a national audience across all three codes was important for the industry and the profile of racing here.
“In addition to the high quality of racing we expect to see, highlighting Tasmania as a racing destination and promoting the entertainment aspects of the major race days are just as important,” he said.