The historic Ipswich Cup Race Meeting will this year continue to build on the solid foundation of the past 158 years that ‘the Cup’ has been run at the Ipswich Turf Club. Ipswich has grown greatly since conducting the first official race meeting in Queensland in 1859. Today, the racecourse at Bundamba is the host to the modern-day Ipswich Cup – a race meeting that attracts a larger attendance than any other meeting in Queensland.

The Ipswich Cup has evolved over the decades to also become the social event of the year for the city as well as the party event of the Queensland Racing Winter Carnival.

Each year, up to 20,000 racegoers descend on the racecourse at Bundamba to live it up on the day of entertainment that is the Ipswich Cup. The spirit of the City of Ipswich is on show annually, as the suited-up males along with the ladies in their finest, step out to celebrate and catch up with social acquaintances both old and new.

The racing is always at a high level and the last two years imported European gallopers Danchai and Maurus have been successful in the Cup and prior to that Tegan Harrison became the first female rider to win an Ipswich Cup aboard Brave Ali in 2014.

Famous Australian horse trainer Gai Waterhouse has won two Ipswich Cups, with Beachside in 1993 and Bianca in 2008 while Gai’s father TJ Smith and fellow trainer Bart Cummings have been other notable champion Australian trainers to win the time-honoured event.

The 2017 Ipswich Cup offers much more than horse racing through various forms of entertainment on offer during the day and into the night.

The infield marquee village has the DJ Festival returning following the success of the past few years. This festival has attracted a growing number of younger patrons rising to 3,000 last year in just two marquees alone – the XXXX Summer and Club Metro marquees.

The After Party is again on in the Grandstand side public area immediately after the racing has completed with the popular covers band ‘Horsebox’ playing until well after dark.

During the afternoon on the Grandstand side there is an easy listening duo playing in the Pimms 1866 Function area as well as the XXXX Combi Van playing music in the public Beer Garden.

A newly introduced option this year is the Lazy Bear Beach Party on the Viewing Terrace lawn. The area has a bit of a beach feel to it – and why not? – in the middle of Winter in Ipswich, far from the nearest beach. The challenge to Ipswich is to blow off your Winter Blues with a Beach Party at the Ipswich Cup.

This offering is in response to calls for a more relaxed package closer to the action with a great view of the races.

This Lazy Bear Beach Party has already proved to be popular among patrons judging by the strong ticket sales to date. The package includes lunch, beer, wine, and Lazy Bear Rum and dry.

The famous and historic Ipswich Cup is still the meeting place for the Social Event of the year for Ipswich after a century and a half, and will continue to be so for many years to come. If you don’t want to miss the biggest social event on the Ipswich calendar, be quick to secure your tickets now. For bookings and enquiries, visit the Ipswich Turf Club at 219 Brisbane Road, Bundamba.