From the Callers Box – September 2025

Have we got it right with major events at Albion Park?

As it stands, we have three carnival dates throughout the year, the Ultimate Drivers/Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale weekend in February, the Constellations in July and the new look summer carnival across November/December. Clearly, they’re the three big pillars of strength for the Albion Park Harness Racing Club. Keeping in my mind, the all QBRED race night in August is becoming bigger and better each year.

So, is that the perfect balance? Do we need any more or any less?

In recent times, much has been discussed about the future of the Eureka, the world’s richest harness event (but restricted to Australian bred progeny ONLY), staged at Menangle since its inception, will it be on the move in 2026? Could it be staged in the Sunshine State next year? Would it fit? And would it work?

The Eureka is staged in September, so the timeslot is open at Albion Park, there’s no other feature races at that time of the year in Brisbane. So, that’s a positive.

But given we haven’t staged a new look summer carnival yet, we can’t be entirely sure if there will be any positive or negative effects with this moving forward. The summer carnival features include the Grand Circuit event, the Blacks A Fake, moved to the summer given the Inter Dominion being at the heart of the Constellations while the Sunshine Sprint and Great Square are also key events moved to the summer timeslot.

Historically, the summer carnival has been a bunch of modest races aimed at by mostly local connections while a very small smattering of interstate participants has headed north previously.

The new look summer carnival should be different. And will be different.

To date, the Ultimate Drivers/Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale weekend and the Constellations have been staged with overwhelming success.

Can the summer carnival also deliver? Only time will tell.

Until next time.