This new partnership builds on the established 23-year partnership with TAB and sees the wagering and entertainment giant boost its status to a major partner of the biggest week in Australian racing, the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
TAB will also assume naming rights to the finale of the Melbourne Cup Carnival for the nation’s best middle distance horses, the $3 million Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) until 2024, along with TAB Australian Cup Day and the $3 million Group 1 TAB Australian Cup (2000m), one of Flemington’s most time-honoured autumn races. In addition, TAB will retain naming rights to this Saturday’s TAB Turnbull Stakes Day and the $1 million Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
The TAB marquee will continue to feature prominently in the world-famous Birdcage Enclosure over the Melbourne Cup Carnival, where it has been a mainstay since the early 2000s.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said TAB is the perfect major partner for spring racing at Flemington.
“We’re pleased to be working alongside our partner of 23 years in TAB to deliver on our vision for a significant grand finale to Cup Week in TAB Champions Stakes Day,” Mr Rosich said.
“TAB Champions Stakes Day will feature record prizemoney of over $10 million for a race meeting at Flemington and three world-class Group 1 races with millions more on offer in bonuses, all of which would not be possible without TAB’s support.”
TAB Chief Executive Officer Adam Rytenskild said the upgraded partnership strengthened the long-running relationship between the VRC and TAB.
“More than ever, we value our loyal partnerships and we are really excited to be expanding our partnership with the VRC. We’re proudly Australian and we are proud to be the exclusive wagering partner of Australia’s most famous week of racing,’’ he said.
“We’re going to be really innovative with the VRC about the way we promote the Grand Finale of Cup week through TAB Champions Stakes Day.”
Mr Rytenskild said TAB had launched a new App in time for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“We’ve never been more excited about the Melbourne Cup carnival. We’ve launched a brand new TAB App which is faster and easier for our customers and we ensured it was live in time for the Cup Carnival. We have a new energy, are customer obsessed in everything we do and we’re looking forward to using our renewed approach to enhance our partnership with the VRC.”
TAB will remain the only wagering provider able to live stream all races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Customers can access the live stream via the new TAB app.
TAB has been a partner of the VRC since 1999 and will continue to feature as part of the Group 1 program on Australia’s most prestigious race day, Penfolds Victoria Derby Day with the running of the $1 million Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares.
The 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival commences with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 29 October, followed by Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on the first Tuesday of November on 1 November, Kennedy Oaks Day on Thursday 3 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 5 November.
Image caption: AFL superstar Jack Gunston and Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador Demi Brereton got up close and personal with Australia’s most popular galloper Zaaki to celebrate the new TAB Champions Stakes Day (Credit: Alex Coppel)
