Mount Isa and Cloncurry will again host a qualifying heat as Racing Queensland's Battle of the Bush Series returns for 2020.
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The North West race clubs are among 16 venues hosting heats for the popular series which was introduced in 2018 with Mount Isa hosting a heat on May 9 and Cloncurry on May 30.
The 16 heats winners (two per country region) will compete in the $125,000 Final on Tattersall's Tiara Raceday at Eagle Farm on Saturday, June 20.
Quilpie, Burrandowan, Charters Towers, Jandowae, Innisfail and Gayndah will each host a qualifying heat this year for the first time and Emerald also returns to the schedule after a year's absence.
Mount Isa horse Deadly Choices finished second in the 2019 Battle of the Bush but did return to Brisbane in triumph in November to win the Country Cups Challenge for trainer Damien Finter and jockey Dan Ballard.
Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Battle of the Bush Series was a showpiece event for country racing and looked forward to its return later this year.
"The Battle of the Bush has rapidly become one of the highlights on the Queensland racing calendar," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"It has energised the regions and provided our country participants with the perfect opportunity to race in town on a Group 1 raceday."
Having witnessed the growth of the Battle of the Bush, Racing Queensland COO Adam Wallish said the organisation was delighted with its progress and its growth over the past two years.
"We're pleased to be able to bring the Battle of the Bush Series to six new clubs in 2020 and hope that it encourages further participation in this fantastic event," Mr Wallish said.
A $30,000 bonus will once again be paid to the winner if it is a QTIS registered horse.
2020 Battle of the Bush dates
May 2 Quilpie DRC Newmarket Open Plate (sw) 1100m
May 9 Burrandowan PRC Open Plate (sw) 1175m
May 9 Gordonvale TC Open Plate (sw) 1100m
May 9 Longreach JC Open Plate (sw) 1100m
May 9 Mount Isa RC Open Plate (sw) 1100m
May 10 Towers JC Open Plate (sw) 1200m
May 16 Emerald JC Open Plate (sw) 1200m
May 16 Central Warrego RC Newmarket Open Hcp 1200m
May 16 Jandowae RC Open Plate (sw) 1200m
May 23 Innisfail TC Open Hcp 1200m
May 30 Bowen TC Open Hcp 1200m
May 30 Cloncurry & DRC Open Hcp 1200m
May 30 Gladstone TC Open Hcp 1200m
May 30 Goondiwindi RC Open Hcp 1200m
Jun 6 Gayndah JC Open Hcp 1200m
Jun 6 Barcaldine RC Open Hcp 1200m
Jun 20 FINAL at Eagle Farm Tattersalls RC Rest 0MWL2Y Quality Hcp 1200m
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
