Ratings | Seven’s Spring Racing Carnival a runaway hit – Australia’s #1 racing coverage reaches 4.2 million.
The Seven Network’s live and free coverage of the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival has been a runaway hit with viewers, reaching 4.2 million Australians so far on Seven and 7plus Sport.
From Epsom Day at Royal Randwick and Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington on 5 October to Thousand Guineas Day at Caulfield and The Hunter Race Day at Newcastle on Saturday, the Spring Racing Carnival on Seven and 7plus Sport this year won millions of fans.
With horse racing coverage 52 weeks a year, Seven is Australia’s undisputed leader in racing broadcasting.
Seven’s Spring Racing Carnival coverage, which includes celebrated meets on the Australian thoroughbred racing calendar and a procession of Group 1 races, has scored an average national total TV audience of 178,000.
Everest Day at Royal Randwick and the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse reached 1.39 million people and had an average audience of 557,000. The Big Dance day at Royal Randwick reached 1.51 million, with an average audience of 192,000, while the Cox Plate at Mooney Valley reached 1.04 million with an average audience of 162,000 and the Golden Eagle day at Rosehill Gardens reached 1 million and had an average audience of 119,000.
Australia’s greatest sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney again led racing’s #1 team joined by Seven racing’s Emma Freedman, Jason Richardson, Katelyn McDonald, Daniel MacPherson, Lizzie Jelfs and Kate Waterhouse with guest appearances from three-time Group 1 winning jockey Kathy O’Hara.
Seven Network Head of Horse Racing, Andrew Hore-Lacy, said:
“This Spring, Seven’s live and free thoroughbred racing coverage has once again been the go-to for fans of many of Australia’s most recognised race days.
“Our dedication to thoroughbred racing is part of our DNA, resonating with racing enthusiasts and lovers of an Australian tradition every week, year-round. Seven’s unrivalled commentary team and in-depth coverage continues to elevate the live sport experience for viewers, offering insights, storytelling and analysis like no other.
“At Seven, racing is a passion shared across the entire network. Our audience reach and year-on-year growth for Australia’s most celebrated events, from the iconic Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup to the thrill of contemporary days like The Everest, Golden Eagle and Big Dance Day, reflect our deep commitment to Australian racing,”
– he said.
“Seven values our strong partnerships with the Australian racing industry including Racing NSW, Racing Victoria, the Melbourne Racing Club, the Australian Turf Club and Moonee Valley Racing Club – and together, we’re committed to driving the national platform, further growth and investment in the sport’s future.
“We also value our relationships with all racing connections. We could not do what we do without the participants, and we thank the industry for recognising Seven as the home of racing, 52 weeks of the year,”
– Mr Hore-Lacy said.
The Spring Racing calendar is the pinnacle of Seven’s racing portfolio, which covers the very best Australian thoroughbred racing live and free every Saturday as part of the most significant free-to-air broadcast deal in the history of the sport.
The long-term agreement to 2027 with Racing Victoria and Racing NSW, which includes key race days in conjunction with Racing Queensland and Racing SA, cements Seven as Australia’s home of racing.
In a bonus for racing fans, Racing WA and Seven recently signed a new multi-year partnership to showcase Western Australian thoroughbred racing, ensuring all thoroughbred race meetings in Western Australia are broadcast live and free on 7plus Sport.
A huge 2025 of racing on Seven starts on Saturday, 4 January, before the highlight of the summer racing calendar – the Magic Millions Raceday – is broadcast live and free direct from the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, 11 January.
Seven’s thoroughbred racing coverage can be streamed live and free via 7plus Sport. Catch up on the best bits of Seven’s racing coverage here.
Media Release – Seven
Link to 7plus HERE
TV Central Horse Racing content HERE
Ratings | Seven’s Spring Racing Carnival a runaway hit
