Carnival of Cups raises the bar with $100,000 feature races
Harness Racing New South Wales has further strengthened its commitment to regional racing, announcing a significant boost to prizemoney across the 2026/27 Carnival of Cups series, with each feature race now carrying a lucrative $100,000 purse.
The announcement follows confirmation that the award-winning Carnival of Cups will return for a fourth season, with the enhanced racing program designed to attract Australia's elite pacers while providing unprecedented opportunities for regional participants.
Each of the five Carnival of Cups meetings - Wagga (November 6), Bathurst (December 11), Newcastle (January 8), Penrith (January 30) and Albury (February 12) - will now showcase a $100,000 feature race, ensuring the nation's best horses have every reason to target the series.
Harness Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter Buckman said the investment reflected the organisation's commitment to delivering first-class racing in regional New South Wales.
"The Carnival of Cups has quickly established itself as one of the premier regional racing and entertainment series in Australia," Mr Buckman said.
"Over the past three seasons we've seen tremendous growth in attendance, wagering and community engagement, and it is only fitting that the racing product continues to evolve alongside it.
"By increasing each feature race to $100,000, we expect to attract some of Australia's very best horses to compete throughout the series, providing an outstanding spectacle for racegoers while rewarding owners, trainers and drivers with enhanced prizemoney opportunities."
The strengthened Carnival race program extends well beyond the headline events.
The Wagga, Bathurst, Newcastle and Penrith Carnival of Cups meetings will once again each host a $75,000 TAB Regional Championships Final, creating another marquee feature on each race card and providing regional horses with the opportunity to compete for substantial prizemoney close to home.
Meanwhile, Albury will again host one of the increasingly popular Fast Pass qualifying races, with the winner earning an automatic place in the $150,000 TAB Regional Championships State Final at Club Menangle on 6 March, 2027.
Additional Fast Pass qualifiers will also be staged at Leeton, Maitland and Dubbo, providing multiple opportunities for horses from across regional New South Wales to bypass the traditional qualification process and secure their place in the state's richest regional feature race.
Mr Buckman said the expanded race program demonstrated Harness Racing NSW's continued investment in creating meaningful pathways for regional participants.
"The TAB Regional Championships and Fast Pass series have become incredibly important initiatives for our participants," he said.
"They reward horses racing in country New South Wales while creating genuine aspirations to compete for major prizemoney.
"Whether you're racing at Leeton, Dubbo, Maitland or Albury, there is now a direct pathway to compete for $150,000 at Club Menangle.
"Combined with the $100,000 Carnival feature races and the $75,000 TAB Regional Championships Finals, we're delivering the strongest regional racing program anywhere in Australia."
The enhanced racing program complements the Carnival of Cups' growing reputation as one of regional New South Wales' biggest annual events.
Each meeting will once again combine elite harness racing with free family entertainment, major Australian music acts, children's activities and premium hospitality experiences through the Carnival Crib.
Entertainment line-ups for each Carnival of Cups event will be announced over the coming months.