RQ Announce Record Purse For Queensland Cup

RACING Queensland will inject an extra $75,000 in prize money for this year's Queensland Cup to attract the best stayers from around the country.

The Group 1 race will now be worth $225,000 and help headline the TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival's biggest night at Albion Park on July 7.

The Group 1 Brisbane Cup, worth a record $525,000, will be run the same night.

Racing Queensland executive general manager operations Adam Wallish said the increases would help continue to grow the greyhound racing code.

"The Queensland Cup remains the winter carnival's grand final for stayers and this deserved $75,000 increase will ensure it attracts a line up befitting of the race's status,” he said.

"The Brisbane Cup remains our showpiece race in Queensland, and now sits amongst the nation's richest sprint races as a result of its $150,000 uplift."

The winter carnival starts next week and will feature 13 Group and Listed races, with more than $1.9 million in prize money on offer across six feature meets.

The State of Origin Greyhound Series will now close out the carnival on July 14, with former Maroon Ben Hannant and NSW Blues great Terry Hill set to renew their rivalry as the respective series coaches.

"The Origin Greyhound Series is a fitting way to bring down the curtain on what is set to be another stellar TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival," Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse said.

"A sea of maroon and sky blue descended upon Albion Park last year for Origin night, and we hope to see the Queenslanders take out this year's series following a narrow defeat in 2021.

"As a whole, this year's winter carnival is our most exciting yet, and we anticipate strong interest from across the nation."

The carnival starts on Thursday night with the Brisbane Young Guns and Carnival Chase before the club's 50-year anniversary celebration evening on June 2.