Welcome to New South Wales' Autumn Racing Carnival, which features a glorious 50 days of thoroughbred racing at its best.

The Autumn Racing Carnival brings together Metropolitan, Provincial and Country racing together with 120 race meetings and a host of social events and celebrations. From Lismore on the North Coast, Albury on the Victorian border and as far west as Cobar and Lightning Ridge there are a wealth of charismatic meetings to experience.

The Carnival kicks off on Easter Saturday March 22 with the first of Royal Randwick's race meetings and concludes on May 10 with the Hawkesbury Race Club's Gold Cup, which grows in stature and prestige every year and in 2008 will offer over $500,000 in prizemoney.

Highlights of the carnival include:

• The world's richest 2 year old event - the Sydney Turf Club's AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes which offers prizemoney of over $3.5 million on Saturday April 19 and;
• The Australian Jockey Club's Emirates Doncaster Day & David Jones Australian Derby which are arguably two of the most historic and prestigious races anywhere in the world on Saturday April 26.
• The William Inglis & Son Easter Yearling and Broodmare sales from April 20 to May 6 where the very best of Australian Thoroughbreds hit the sales ring under the famous Moreton Bay Fig tree.

The partners in this great event, the Australian Jockey Club, Sydney Turf Club, Tabcorp, Racing NSW, William Inglis & Son, Star City and Tourism NSW are delighted to present the Autumn Racing Carnival - enjoy.

WELCOME FROM THE PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES MORRIS IEMMA

Equine influenza has probably been the worst crisis to ever hit the NSW racing industry. Through discipline and determination, we’ve put the worst behind us and now the races are well and truly back!

The NSW Autumn Racing Carnival is one of Australian racing's marquee events but I share the industry’s view that it can grow even further to become a truly international event to match Sydney’s status as Australia's leading global city.

With the right level of interstate and international promotion, plus strong corporate and government support, we can make this vision a reality. Together we can turn the NSW Autumn Racing Carnival into an event to rival the world’s great racing carnivals.

The Autumn Racing Carnival has something for everyone from high class racing right across the state, to wonderful raceday and corporate hospitality packages and the Inglis Easter Sale.

Above all, the Autumn Racing Carnival is an ideal opportunity for race-goers to indulge in some glamour because the racetrack is one of the last places where a touch of style never goes out of fashion.

I extend a warm welcome to everyone attending this year's carnival. I'm sure you'll find plenty to enjoy and that this great racing carnival will bring you back again and again.

Morris Iemma, MP
Premier

WELCOME FROM THE MINISTER FOR RACING GRAHAM WEST

Racing in NSW has only just recovered from one of the most devastating periods in its proud history - the Equine Influenza crisis - and already the industry is showing its determination to not only survive but to grow and prosper.

Today we see racing in NSW move into a new era with the advent of "The Autumn Racing Carnival - 50 Glorious Days" campaign to catapult our industry on to the international stage.

This campaign will bring metropolitan and regional racing together to promote 120 race meetings from Lightning Ridge, to Albury, to Lismore and Cobar and will benefit the entire NSW racing industry through increased participation and revenue.

I encourage everybody to experience the thrill and excitement of racing during what is destined to become a major international carnival.

The Hon Graham West, MP
Minister for Gaming and Racing
Minister for Sport and Recreation

WELCOME FROM RACING NSW CEO PETER V'LANDYS

Welcome to New South Wales' Autumn Racing Carnival, which features a glorious 50 days of thoroughbred racing at its best.

The Autumn Racing Carnival involves 120 race meetings across the Metropolitan, Provincial and Country areas of New South Wales. Each and every race meeting has its own character, charm, and atmosphere.

Highlights of the carnival include:

• The world's richest 2 year old event - the Sydney Turf Club's AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes which offers prizemoney of $3.5 million.
• The Australian Jockey Club's Emirates Doncaster Day & David Jones Australian Derby which are arguably two of the most historic and prestigious races anywhere in the world.

The Autumn Racing Carnival also features an abundance of Provincial and Country race meetings. From Lismore on the North Coast, Albury on the Victorian border and as far west as Cobar and Lightning Ridge there are a wealth of charismatic meetings to experience.

The carnival concludes on May 10 with the Hawkesbury Race Club's Gold Cup meeting, which grows in stature and prestige every year and will offer over $500,000 in prizemoney in 2008.

I hope to see you at the Autumn Racing Carnival. Let's get out there - enjoy this great State and the very best of Australian racing.

Peter V'landys
Chief Executive, Racing NSW