All roads lead to Eagle Farm as the famous Ladbrokes Battle of the Bush gets underway this week.
Now in its eighth year, Queensland’s showpiece country racing series will commence in Goondiwindi on Saturday, with a further 15 qualifiers to be staged in May and June across the state.
The series will again culminate with a $200,000 Final as a part of the Queensland Racing Carnival, to be run on the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara Raceday.
In a boon for the local breeding industry, a $30,000 bonus will once again be paid to the winner if it is a QTIS-registered horse.
Racing Minister Tim Mander said country racing is the lifeblood of so many regional communities across the state.
“The Battle of the Bush remains the showpiece event for country racing in Queensland,” Minister Mander said.
“With the eyes of the nation firmly fixed on the Sunshine State, this series is a unique opportunity for our country and regional participants to compete for feature level prize money on a Group 1 raceday.”
“From our biggest cities to our smallest and most remote towns, racing brings our communities together.
“More than half of the industry’s $2.4 billion in economic contribution directly benefits the regions.”
Trainer Olivia Cairns and hoop Justin Stanley have combined twice to win the series, on an honour roll that also includes legendary bush horses Mason’s Chance, Hanover Square and Art By Concorde.
In another coup for the series, Ladbrokes will continue its support of the Battle of the Bush in 2025, with the final on June 28 supported by a function to be staged in the Ladbrokes Rough Habit Room.
Finally, the popular Fashions From Afar competition will run in conjunction with each of the BOTB qualifiers, culminating with its own final on Tattersall's Tiara Day.
Click here for more information on the Battle of the Bush Series.
