Inter final rankings and naming rights announced
HARNESS Racing New South Wales and TAB have teamed up in a naming rights agreement for the 2024 TAB Inter Dominion Championships.
The partnership was announced today at a media launch in Newcastle, where the first round of heats will be held on 29 November.
The heat rounds will head to Bathurst on Wednesday, 4 December and conclude at Club Menangle on 7 December. The ID24 series will culminate in a Grand Final night of racing at Club Menangle on 14 December.
It is the first time the Inter Dominion Championships have been held in New South Wales since a dramatic edition of the time-honoured series on the same three tracks in 2021.
As part of the TAB agreement, all four nights of racing will be broadcast on Sky Thoroughbred Central and the Sky Racing channels.
“The Inter Dominion is the true test of speed, stamina, endurance and an exhibition of the absolute best in our sport so we are delighted to be bringing this event back to New South Wales and taking it to three of our premier tracks across the state,” Harness Racing New South Wales Chief Executive Peter Buckman said.
“We are thrilled to be once again teaming up with TAB for this marquee race event is and committing to expanded broadcast coverage on the Sky Thoroughbred Central channel.”
The Inter Dominion Finals will take place at Club Menangle on 14 December. Australian rock icon Sarah McLeod will headline the trackside entertainment.
The popular Aussie Night markets, featuring carnival rides, local stalls, food and drinks will be on site, with a special guest appearance from Santa for the kids.
The ID24 race meeting is a free but ticketed event. To book your tickets or to purchase a hospitality package in the trackside lawn marquee or Miracle Mile restaurant head to the Club Menangle website – https://www.clubmenangle.com.au/events/inter-dominion-2024/
For more information on the ID24 series head to interdominion.com.au
IN OTHER Inter news, Final rankings have been released, with some major changes since the third round was released.
Both defending champions of the Inter Dominion Pacing and Trotting Championship Grand Finals in Leap To Fame and Just Believe have been scratched from the 2024 series.
Recent New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee has also been removed from the 2024 series.
In the pacing ranks, this has seen recent WA Cup winner Minstrel surge to the top of the rankings, moving up from 15.
Another major move was seen with Queensland pacer Blacksadance who was ranked 27 in the third round of rankings and promoted to three after winning the ‘Golden Ticket’ feature, the Queensland Cup earlier this month.
Also, a late nomination has been accepted for New Zealand pacer Tact McLeod who is ranked 23.
As for the trotters, the talented London To A Brick has been promoted to the top spot in the final rankings.
Another major mover was the Menangle Park-trained Royal Dan who moved from ranking 19 to five after winning a ‘Golden Ticket’ feature in Queensland on November 9.
The top 36 pacers will qualify for the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship while the top 24 trotters will be accepted for the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship.
While ID24 will be held across three different tracks – Bathurst, Newcastle, Menangle -all heats will have 12 starters with a starting configuration of eight horses off the front and four horses on the second row.
Dates:
Round 1 – Newcastle November 29
Round 2 – Bathurst December 4
Round 3 – Menangle December 7
Grand Finals – Menangle December 14
To view the ID24 Final Rankings click here.
For all other ID24 information head to interdominion.com.au
