Australias richest maiden series returns under lights

Racing Victoria (RV), Pakenham Racing Club (PRC) and Sportsbet are excited to announce the return of Australia’s richest maiden series, Sportsbet Future Stars, in early 2024. 

Following the success of the inaugural 2023 series, Sportsbet Future Stars will headline Thursday night racing at Sportsbet-Pakenham throughout January and February and again offer $1.2 million in prizemoney.

Beginning on 11 January 2024, the series will feature heats over seven consecutive Thursday nights before culminating on Pakenham’s biggest ever night meeting on Thursday, 29 February 2024.

That evening will see the $300,000 Sportsbet Future Stars Final (1400m) showcased alongside the $300,000 Sportsbet Pakenham Cup (2500m) which has been relocated from its previous December timeslot.

The lucrative series, which was won by the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Marble Arch in 2023, will again serve to kick start promising racing careers and provide a broad section of trainers and owners with an opportunity to chase the riches.

The inaugural Sportsbet Future Stars was warmly embraced by punters and participants alike, with Thursday night turnover increasing 16% year-on-year and a raft of talented horses emerging through the series.

Mirroring 2023, the Sportsbet Future Stars series will be conducted as follows:

• The series will again be open to three, four and five-year-old horses only;
• There will be 12 maiden heats of $75,000 each over distances of 1200m or 1400m;
• The heats and final will feature fields of 12 with the winner of each heat automatically qualifying for the final;
• If qualified horses do not accept for the final, then their spots are offered to the highest rated second placegetters among the heats;
• The $300,000 final will be run over 1400m as a Class 3 set weights contest;

The Sportsbet Future Stars Jockey Contest will also return in 2024 with riders to compete for a lucrative $50,000 prize pool across the eight night meetings.

Jockey points will be awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis to the first five placegetters in each of the 12 heats, with double points on offer in the final.

The three highest point scorers will be rewarded for their riding consistency on conclusion of the series, with the winner receiving $30,000, the runner-up earning $15,000 and $5,000 awarded to the third-placed jockey.

To add further intrigue, riders will again be permitted to nominate one ‘Power Play’ across the heats, giving them the opportunity to earn double points in that race.

Ethan Brown took home first prize in the 2023 series courtesy of a trio of heat wins and a smart execution of his Power Play. Daniel Stackhouse, who piloted Marble Arch to the series win, finished second with Blaike McDougall third.

Quotes attributable to Matt Welsh, RV Executive General Manager – Racing

“We are delighted to announce the return of the Sportsbet Future Stars series for a second year, after it performed so well in 2023.

“The inaugural series produced a great deal of emerging talent with eight of the beaten brigade from the 2023 final winning subsequent races.

“Last year’s series also saw Thursday night turnover across all meetings increase by 16% year-on-year against a backdrop of decline. Punters warmly embraced the format and it had a flow-on benefit across all Thursday night meetings and races.

“So much time and investment goes into getting a horse to the track. This series is a highly sought after opportunity for owners to score a lucrative first win with their horse, whilst creating a focal point of Thursday night racing and a narrative for fans and punters to follow throughout.

“We’re particularly excited to showcase the 2024 Sportsbet Future Stars Final alongside the first ever Pakenham Cup run under lights, which promises to be a huge evening on 29 February.

“On behalf of Racing Victoria, I’d like to thank Sportsbet for their ongoing support of the Sportsbet Future Stars and the Victorian racing industry as a whole.”

Quotes attributable to Tania Abbotto, Sportsbet Chief Customer Officer

"Sportsbet is thrilled to be back supporting the Sportsbet Future Stars maiden series in 2024, the richest maiden series run in Australia each year.

“Our customer engagement metrics were through the roof for the inaugural series in 2023 and we applaud Racing Victoria for running the marquee series during the January, February period - it is the perfect lead in to the autumn racing carnival here in Victoria.

“Sportsbet looks forward to hosting the Future Stars final at the revamped Sportsbet Pakenham Cup meeting on 29 February and we’re excited to see which stars might be unearthed over the summer!”

Quotes attributable to Blair Odgers, PRC Chief Executive Officer

“The Pakenham Racing Club is delighted that the hugely successful Sportsbet Future Stars Series will return in partnership with Sportsbet and Racing Victoria. “We’re excited to again host the series and the 2024 version will take on even greater significance as we build momentum towards the historic 2024 Sportsbet Pakenham Cup, set to illuminate the track under lights for the very first time in its rich history. We look forward to sharing the excitement and creating memorable moments on course for all involved."

The program for the 2024 Sportsbet Future Stars Series is as follows: