Black Opal Stakes day to become $1 million race day

The nation’s capital is set to have its first $1 million race day with the Canberra Racing Club moving to condense its annual carnival into a single showcase meeting, headlined by the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes.

The two-year-old feature will be one of four stakes races on a bumper 10-race card, to be held on Sunday March 10, 2024, which will also boast the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m).

The Black Opal Stakes (1200m) has been an important part of the autumn juvenile program for decades and has been won by the likes of Trapeze Artist (2017), Criterion (2013) and Epaulette (2012), while in 1999 Catbird became the first and only horse to claim the Black Opal Stakes-Golden Slipper double.

The Canberra race has also produced seven Golden Slipper placegetters.

The changes announced this week are part of a revamped calendar set to be introduced in the 2023/24 season which will see the Canberra Racing Club host four Saturday meetings.

The weekend programs will be spread throughout the year with the club to hold its second ‘Hops & Hooves Festival’ race day on September 23, along with Saturday cards in November, and January “with significant announcements due for both race days in the coming weeks”.

The club’s remaining Saturday meeting will be on June 4 next year and Darren Pearce, CEO of the Canberra Racing Club, says their goal is to continue to grow local interest in the sport.

“We are focused on growing within our community and are excited to secure these opportunities to showcase racing and our events at more accessible times,” Pearce said.

“Our solitary Saturday race meeting in 2022 was extremely well received by members and racegoers, so the opportunity to innovate and create some exciting new events is one we had to jump at.”