With Sydney now open for business, the Australian Turf Club is gearing up for what will be the institution’s most exciting and action-packed summer on record. For regular punters and social racegoers, the Summer Festival of Racing will be an unprecedented roll-out featuring no less than 13 feature race days from November to March, hosted across Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens and Warwick Farm with a stacked program of entertainment, pop-up food stalls and landmark celebrations.
We hope you’ve got your Sunday best ready for those days at the races, because over the next few months you’ll be having more than just a few wild punts in your finest threads, from the family-friendly frivolity of The Randwick Christmas Festival and the big Boxing Day blowout with an ‘After The Last’ concert from Hot Dub Time Machine, to a thrilling New Years Day race, and an eventful Australia Day at Warwick Farm.
The Winx Stand Arrives At Royal Randwick
There are a number of marquee celebrations driving the Summer Festival of Racing schedule that’ll take these social races far beyond the typical summer soiree. Primarily, this is the long-awaited opening of the new state-of-the-art Winx Stand, grand, impressive, and appropriately positioned as Sydney’s newest major large-scale function centre.
The opening of the Winx Stand will take place at The Agency Villiers Stakes Day on December 11, one of the key events of the calendar and a quintessential experience for spectators keen on making the most of race day. The ATC will be treating the day as the ultimate celebration, framing the big race with entertainment, all-day DJ’s, fine food with award-winning hospitality offerings and pop-up bars, a Santa’s village for the kids, and a special ‘After The Last’ concert by unstoppable six-man band Furnace and the Fundamentals.
The Full Schedule
Festival Stakes Day – Saturday, November 27
Festival Stakes Day will commence the Summer Festival of Racing, channeling the best of Sydney’s west with award-winning hospitality, Champagne bars and prestigious restaurants, picturesque viewing lawns, and exquisite fashions. And just to make it a family-friendly affair, the venue will also be welcoming in a special visit from Santa and his elves alongside live music to really build up that festive atmosphere.
Randwick Christmas Festival, Royal Randwick – Friday, December 3
You can register now for free-entry into the Randwick Christmas Festival, with Twilight racing from early afternoon into the evening alongside a myriad of bars and restaurants. Royal Randwick will be turning into the North Pole for families keen on getting into the Christmas spirit early, with photo opps with Santa, a festive parade, Christmas-themed food, free amusement rides, jumping castles, and a petting zoo with pony rides for younger racegoers.
Christmas At Rosehill Gardens, Rosehill Gardens – Saturday, December 4
If you can’t make it out to Royal Randwick on the Friday, Rosehill Gardens is where you want to be on December 4. Christmas will be in full swing at the award-winning Grand Pavilion, priced at $205 per person with a reserved seat and table on the ground floor of the pavilion, along with a deluxe buffet lunch and a five-hour beverage package. Outside of that, the typical Rosehill Gardens favourites will be in operation, plus Santa will be there to bring the Christmas cheer.
The Agency Villiers Stakes Day, Royal Randwick – Saturday, December 11
One of the biggest days Sydney’s social racing scene has ever seen will take place at The Agency Villiers Stakes Day, celebrating the 130th running of the Villiers Stakes with the grand opening of the new start-of-the-art Winx Stand, which will be accessible to all ticketholders. And when that’s all said and done, and the last race has run its course, party band Furnace and the Fundamentals will take to the stage to close out a momentous day. There’s no better way to celebrate Christmas than at this trackside party!
Royal Randwick Raceday, Royal Randwick – Saturday, December 18
With the Winx Stand now open, Royal Randwick Raceday will look even more exciting. Christmas racing days are always an absolute scene, but now there’s even more scope to plan a truly epic day, with a vibe built up by DJs and entertainment, a visit from Santa for the kids, award-winning hospitality packages, and of course two thrilling races on the day.
Boxing Day, Royal Randwick – Sunday, December 26
Sydney’s biggest Boxing Day party is at Royal Randwick! Live DJs and pop-up bars will be pulsing throughout the day alongside the typical award-winning hospitality packages and, when it’s all said and done, a special After the Last concert by none other than propulsive party-starters Hot Dub Time Machine.
New Years Day, Royal Randwick – Saturday, January 1
With 2021 in the rearview, things are kicking the new year off fresh and appropriately large, going hard at Royal Randwick with a classic race day for Sydney’s most sophisticated, stylish and celebrated. With world-class racing fueling it all, 2022 will kick off with plenty of entertainment, fashion and fine cuisine for those spectators who just can’t get enough of those award-winning hospitality packages and the unrivalled atmosphere.
Australia Day, Warwick Farm – Wednesday, January 26
It’s Warwick Farm’s time to shine on Australia Day as Sydneysiders get a mid-week race day with free entry for spectators. Racing enthusiasts that really live and breathe the sport have been showing out here for years, and Australia Day will be no different as Warwick Farm turns into Sydney’s biggest BBQ with a full day of free family fun with food trucks, pony rides, amusements rides, and a petting zoo.
Inglis Millennium Day, Royal Randwick – Saturday, February 5
Royal Randwick will be business as usual for Inglis Millennium Day, celebrating the first weekend of February with the venue’s award-winning hospitality packages and venues like Grandview Restaurant as well as celebrating our Love of the Horse with a celebration of retired racehorses.
Bisley Apollo Stakes Day, Royal Randwick – Saturday, February 12
Secure your tickets now to a Lunar New Year celebration, Apollo Stakes Day at Royal Randwick where the venue will be teeming with all the usual award-winning hospitality packages and a celebratory atmosphere as the Summer Festival of Racing continues with Lion dance performers, God of Wealth and Fortune Cookies to bring in the Lunar New Year.
Silver Slipper Stakes Day, Rosehill Gardens – Saturday, February 19
As the Summer Festival of Racing approaches its final lap, the Silver Slipper Stakes Day will make the most of the stunning facilities at Rosehill Gardens, giving Sydney’s West the best race day it will see all month with an oasis of Champagne bars, stylish fashions, and picturesque viewing laws, complemented by award-winning hospitality packages so you can choose exactly how your day unfolds.
TAB Chipping Norton Stakes Day, Royal Randwick – Saturday, February 26
Much loved by racing purists, the TAB Chipping Norton Stakes Day will be back for 2022, making the most of the year with a day throwing everything Royal Randwick has in its considerable stash for racegoers to make the most of their day. Expect award-winning hospitality packages, unmatched facilities, and a state-of-the-art theatre to view all the thrills of the race while you go hard in your best threads.
Randwick Guineas Day, Royal Randwick – Saturday, March 5
Exhausted from all those social races? There’s no time to rest for the wicked just yet. Randwick Guineas Day will mark the final event in the Summer Festival of Racing, making the most of Royal Randwick and opening the shiny new Winx Stand for the first time all year. Racegoers will have complete access to everything that makes social race days so fun, including those award-winning hospitality packages and a true sense of victory (or defeat, depending on how much research you’ve done ahead of the day).
The Australian Turf Club Summer Festival of Racing is now on. You can book over at australianturfclub.com.au. Head to the link below for all the information you need to make the most of your race days.
This article is proudly presented in partnership with the Australian Turf Club. Thank you for supporting the brands who support Boss Hunting.
