2008 Autumn Racing Carnival

As the seasons change the best racehorses move from state to state, and in autumn the main racing is held in New South Wales. The New South Wales' Autumn Racing Carnival features 50 days of thoroughbred racing and in 2008 the dates are March 22 to May 10.

The Autumn Racing Carnival is more than just Sydney racing as it brings together Metropolitan, Provincial and Country racing with 120 race meetings and a host of social events and celebrations.

Autumn Racing Carnival Racing Odds - Click Here

The first racing of the Autumn Carnival is Easter Saturday racing at Royal Randwick with the Inglis Galaxy and Chipping Norton Stakes Day. Races are also held at Newcastle, Wagga, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Lightning Ridge, Lismore, Moree, Moruya, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Tocumwal on that date.

The main Sydney racedays of the carnival are:

- Sat March 22 2008: Royal Randwick – Inglis Galaxy and Chipping Norton Stakes
- Mon March 24 2008: Royal Randwick
- Sat March 29 2008 Royal Randwick - Guineas Day
- Sat April 5 2008: Canterbury Racecourse – Myer Ladies Day
- Sat April 12 2008: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – Darley Guineas Day
- Sat April 19 2008: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse – Golden Slipper Day
- Sat April 26 2008: Royal Randwick – Doncaster Handicap & Australian Derby
- Sat May 3 2008: Royal Randwick – Sydney Cup Day

The Golden Slipper Festival is an important component of the Autumn Racing Carnival and is held 5-19 April 2008 over 3 consecutive Saturdays at 2 venues with a total of 18 Group races and nearly $11 million in prizemoney.

In 2008 Ladies Day, which is the opening day of the Golden Slipper Festival, will be run for the first time at Canterbury Park Racecourse. It features the running of the Queen of the Turf Stakes, one of only three Group 1 races for fillies and mares in Australia, the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and Golden Slipper preludes, the Todman and Reisling Stakes.

The Golden Slipper Festival is in full-swing by day two (Guineas Day) with a program boasting the Group 1 Dubai Rosehill Guineas ($500,000), the first of three major contests for three-year-olds in autumn.

The crescendo of the Festival is day three, Golden Slipper Day – the richest day of racing on the Australian calendar. It features five Group 1 events including the richest race in the world for two-year-olds, the AAMI Golden Slipper, and The BMW whose honour roll includes many turf legends.

Throughout the 50 days of the carnival there are race dates from Lismore on the North Coast, Albury on the Victorian border and as far west as Cobar and Lightning Ridge.

The Carnival concludes on May 10 with the Hawkesbury Race Club's Gold Cup, which grows in stature and prestige every year and in 2008 will offer over $500,000 in prizemoney.