Doomben Racecourse, which is located in the suburb of Ascot, approximately 10km from Brisbane CBD, 6km from the airport, is owned by the Brisbane Racing Club and has been extensively renovated in the last few years to modernize the facilities and enhance everyone´s race day experience. The Brisbane Racing Club also own Eagle Farm racecourse (less than 1km away from Doomben) and the 2 venues host approximately 100 race meetings annually, making the Brisbane Racing Club the largest metropolitan race club in Queensland.
The main grandstand has a capacity of 20000. The racetrack’s circumference is around 1715 metres with a finishing straight of 350m, and of course the surface is made of the perfect turf.
For regular racegoers, the Brisbane Racing Club offers membership options that include entry into Doomben Racecourse as well as other affiliated racecourses in the area. Memberships will give you access to exclusive facilities, such as the Bernborough Members Reserve and the Doomben Tattersalls Club, including dining rooms, bars, and other facilities.
Doomben Racecourse is also one of the most advanced racetracks in Australia, with an innovative camera system providing close-up coverage of each race. Patrons can watch races live on multiple screens throughout the complex. It is also home to a state-of-the-art training centre, which is used by many trainers in Queensland and offers some of the best facilities for horses in the area.
Doomben Racecourse is one of Brisbane’s premier horse racing venues with a rich history dating back to 1933. It showcases the best of Queensland thoroughbred racing and is home to some of the biggest events on the Australian racing calendar.
Doomben Racecourse Tips
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Doomden Racecourse History
The land that formed Doomben racecourse was purchased in 1933, this land included fences, horse stables, starting lanes, as well as a grass racing track with a 6 furlong straight. The first race took place on 20 May 1933, with racing continued until 1941 when the attack on Pearl Harbour let to approximately 1million American troops moving to and setting up camp in the Brisbane suburbs, including Doomben and surrounds.
The Brisbane Turf Club which operated out of Doomben and the Queensland Turf Club which operated out of Eagle Farm, merged in 2009 to form the Brisbane Racing Club.
The racing season at Doomben Racecourse starts in April and runs to December, with some non-race events in the off-season. One of the major events at the track is the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, a six-week extravaganza that starts in May and culminates with Stradbroke Handicap Day in June. This carnival features a host of Group One races for thoroughbreds, including favourites such as the Doomben 10,000 and the Doomben Cup.
At times, for flexibility or maintenance works, races are moved between Eagle Farm and Doomben, so for example the Queensland Qaks was run at Doomben in 2015 and 2017-2019. Even the BTC (or Kingsford-Smith) Cup first run in 1964 has been hosted at Doomden for all but 6 occasions.
Doomben Racecourse Features Race Days
The Doomden racing program hosts significant fortnightly racedays most Saturdays and Wednesdays (alternating with Eagle Farm) from April to December, with free admission on Wednesdays.
Some of the most well-known races that are held at Doomben are:
April (22nd 2023) - 3 Group level races on the card
- Princess Stakes – 1,615m - Open Handicap - Set Weights -3-year-old fillies – 160k prize purse
- Tails Stakes - 1,615m – Quality Handicap – 160k prize purse
- Mick Dittman Plate - 1,615m – Set Weights – 3-year-olds – 160k prize money
May (13th 2023) - Stradbroke Season
- Doomben 10,000 – first held in 1933, this is a key race in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival schedule, a 1,200m Group 1,three-year-olds and older, weight-for-age race, with a prize purse of $1.5 million. Originally called the Doomben Newmarket Handicap, it was renamed when the prize purse increased to $10,000 and made it the richest sprint race in Australia.
- Spirit of Boom Classic – a 1,200m Group 2 for two-year-olds at set weights, with a prize purse of $300,000. Now held on the same day as the Doomben 10,000, it was run in 1982 this race has had some interesting drinks names in the recent past including Coca-Cola Stakes, Moet and Chandon Classic and Champagne Classic.
- Chairman’s Handicap – a 2,000m Group 3 race held in April, with a prize purse of $150,000. The race may seem insignificant but it can be an important lead in race for horses aiming to compete in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
- Rough Habit Plate – a 2,000m Group 3 race for three-year-olds under set weights, with a prize purse of $250,000. This raceis usually the first middle distance race of three-year-olds in the Winter Racing Carnival.
May (20th 2023) – Stradbroke Season
- Doomben Cup – also first held in 1933, this is a 2,000m Group 1 race for three-year-olds and older, under weight-for-age conditions, with a prize purse of $1m.
- BRC Sprint – a 1,350m Group 3 open race under quality conditions with a prize purse of $300,000.
- The Roses – 2,000m Group 2 race for three-year-old fillies under set weights with a prize purse of $300,000
December (23rd and 30th 2023)
- BJ McLachlan Stakes – 1,200m Group 3 race for 2 year olds under set weights with a prize purse of $250,000
- VO Rogue Plate – a 1,350m Group 3 race for three-year-old under set weights with a prize purse of $300,000
- The Buffering – a 1,350m race for three year olds and up with a prize purse of $300,000 AND the winner gains entry to ther Magic Millions Cup in January