2020 WEETWOOD SPRING SUCCESS
RACING QUEENSLAND PRAISES TOOWOOMBA TURF CLUB FOR FIRST SPRING WEETWOOD EVENT
TOOWOOMBA Turf Club has been praised for its’ first Spring Weetwood event in September last year with the release of figures from Racing Queensland’s inaugural Spring Racing Carnival.
The praise, from Racing Queensland Chief Executive Officer Brendan Parnell, included the staging of the event in the most difficult of COVID-affected circumstances and for an outstanding wagering performance.
The 2020 Audi Centre Toowoomba Weetwood was one of the headline events of the Spring Racing Carnival last year.
Racing Queensland shifted the Weetwood from Autumn to Spring in a strategic plan to align the event with the ever-popular Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers event. Weetwood day sees the running of the time-honoured Weetwood Handicap, Toowoomba Cup, Toowoomba Guineas and Pat O’Shea Plate.
The 2020 Weetwood produced an additional $446,000 (+84%) in wagering revenue from its traditional April timeslot, while turnover increased by $5.5 million (+31%).
Mr Parnell said turnover on Weetwood Day, traditionally run at the same time as the Championships in Sydney, increased from $17.8m to $23.3 million.
TTC Chairman Kent Woodford said he was thrilled with the success of the first-ever Spring Weetwood – particularly in the uplift of wagering and turnover.
“Considering the difficult circumstances that COVID placed us in, the Club was thrilled to present another top-notch metropolitan race day event.
“Turnover for our flagship event was incredible in 2020 and we look forward to producing a similar result next year.”
Mr Parnell acknowledged that COVID impacted patron numbers across the state during the year, but stated that the inaugural Spring Carnival delivered pleasing results across the board.
“The on-course atmosphere still thrived and we will consider further refinements in 2021 to continue to develop an even stronger Spring Carnival program,” he said.
ENDS.
For further information, contact Toowoomba Turf Club Chief Executive Officer
Lizzy King on 0478 752 039.
