The Sunshine Coast racing industry’s impressive economic footprint has been detailed in an extensive report.
The local sector injected more than $156 million into the state’s economy while sustaining almost 1000 permanent jobs in 2024-2025, according to the Size and Scope of the Queensland Racing Industry.
It has also proved to be a breeding ground for Melbourne Cup champions in recent years.
Racing Queensland acting CEO Lachlan Murray said the local racecourse, at Caloundra, has emerged as a key location for the sport.
“Corbould Park has quickly established itself as one of the state’s premier racing and training facilities, with around 500 horses working at the track every day,” he said.
“Infrastructure projects, including an additional 130 stable boxes … have further enhanced the region’s appeal for (racing) participants.
“The Sunshine Coast Turf Club has also forged a worldwide reputation, thanks to its relationship with the Melbourne Cup, with the last three winners of the race that stops a nation having their own unique connection to the Sunshine Coast.”
The region’s racing industry is responsible for generating $156.4 million in value added contribution to gross state product. More than $140 million of that is generated by the thoroughbred racing industry. The region also sustains almost 1000 full-time jobs and close to 3400 participants.
The turf club hosted 59 meetings in 2024-2025 – more than one a week – with almost 69,000 patrons coming through the gate.
The feature race, the Caloundra Cup, boasted prizemoney of $500,000 this year.
Corbould Park, which boasts a 2000m turf track, continues to evolve.
A $7.4 million project, completed in 2023, ensured that stabling at the venue expanded to 384 horses, with four extra barns, walkers and hose down areas.
A $8.9 million redevelopment, in late 2021, included the installation of an all-weather Polytrack, along with drainage improvements to its training tracks and the installation of a new plastic rail.
The turf club is set for an almost $1 million air conditioning upgrade within the next year or two.
The report highlighted the Sunshine Coast’s links to the Melbourne Cup, particularly during the past three years.
Without A Fight was based at the Freedman stable in Caloundra during the 2023 Queensland Winter Carnival, winning two feature races before completing the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double later that year.
Locally trained Knight’s Choice then produced a stunning upset in 2024, winning the Cup at near triple-figure odds for Sunshine Coast trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon.
In 2025, Half Yours arrived in Queensland and won the Caloundra Cup before going on to claim the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
