The 2024 Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival will be the biggest yet, with three weekends of Group 1 spectacle welcoming punters to Morphettville racecourse.

The Adelaide Racing Carnival will run across three Saturdays from 27th April to 11th May, with, for the first time in South Australian racing history, two $1-million races, on Australasian Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes Day, kicking things off ahead of the well-famed Derby Day and Goodwood Day respectively.

Grant Mayer, South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) Chief Executive Officer, says the big-win higher-stakes atmosphere is the undeniable drawcard this autumn season.

“All four races had prizemoney raised last month from $500,000 to $1 million in a joint funding agreement between Sportsbet, Racing SA and the SAJC,” says Grant. “This has already resulted in big interest in South Australian Group 1 racing from across the country, putting us prominently back on the national map.”

Two races on Saturday, 27th April begin the festivities – Australasian Oaks for three-year-old fillies (2000m) and   the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) for fillies and mares.

John Allen and the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace stable combined for victory in both events last year, Australasian Oaks won by Affaire A Suivre and Robert Sangster Stakes by Ruthless Dame.

Saturday, May 4th sees the glitz and glam with a touch of flair emerge for SA Derby Day in tradition dating back  to 1860, a great testing field for three-year-old stayers across 2500m.

Tying in with another famed race day taking place on 4th May, the day at Morphettville will have a Kentucky Derby feel across the course, with an inspired menu including fried chicken and blackberry desserts, while the Betting Ring will have a wine bar with Kentucky whisky.

Newly appointed Fashion Curator for SA Derby Day 2024 at Morphettville, Chris Kontos, will host an exclusive experience within the Champions Balcony package in the new Wolf Blass Event Centre, who says touches of colour are more than acceptable.

“There will be a majority of black and white looks in line with tradition, but touches of colour, print and glamour are always accepted to impress,” says Chris. “I want to see a chic city cowboy (or girl) look that’s hitting the globe right now, or some elevated 80s tailoring with a touch of glamour.”

Soon to launch his own business, Chris has taken on casting model talent, co-ordinating fashion, hair, and makeup for a yet-to-be-announced showcase, as well as co-hosting and presenting the event.

Fashions on the Field will return where patrons can enter the competition and visit an on-course Fashion Stable including tailor services from Oscar Hunt and make-up touch ups for that extra runway ready look. Judging this Autumn will include the traditional Best Dressed and Best Suited nods in Derby appropriate monochrome alongside, for the first time, a third category for those keen to incorporate a colourful take on Kentucky Derby flair.

The carnival will conclude on Saturday, 11th May with South Australia’s sprinting crown jewel, the Group 1 Sportsbet Goodwood over 1200m. Attracting the country’s best sprinters, the most notable winner was Black Caviar in her penultimate ride in 2012.

The Sportsbet Racing Carnival will feature an incredible opportunity to take a monster putt for a chance to share in $100,000 as well as free adult GA tickets available for each day of the Carnival in celebration of the recently announced partnership between the SAJC and Sportsbet. Details and conditions around free GA and Putt for Dough activation can be found at morphettville.com.au.

There are many options for hospitality packages including the trackside favourite Diva Lounge package for $125 with six drinks and one food voucher, and the Champions Balcony package – featuring impeccable hospitality within the most premium location on-course, the Wolf Blass Event Centre, starting at $225.The Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival is at Morphettville Racecourse from Saturday, 27th April to Saturday, 11th May.