Prize money boost for Brisbane carnival

Racing Queensland is expected to announce sweeping changes to the winter carnival prize money and race dates on Friday.

RQ has a war chest after signing a new multi billion dollar deal with wagering company TattsBet in June.

The winter carnival is expected to start on Anzac Day at the Gold Coast with a program of nine feature races.

The carnival will also include stand-alone feature days at Toowoomba, Caloundra and Ipswich.

The Brisbane component will be reduced from five days to four.

RQ hopes to have the redeveloped Eagle Farm ready for the carnival but if it isn’t all Brisbane Group races will be run at Doomben.

Prize money will receive a boost with a $2 million Stradbroke handicap headlining the carnival and all the other Group One races carrying at least $500,000.

No race during the carnival will be worth less than $100,000.

RQ boss Kevin Dixon confirmed an announcement would be made on Friday.

“We had intended to make the announcement after the Flemington carnival but due to reasons I won’t make public we have brought it forward,” Dixon said.

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