From October through to New Year’s Day, Perth Racing’s Spring Carnival and The Pinnacles Series delivered one of the most dynamic and culturally resonant seasons in recent memory — combining elite racing, elevated entertainment, record-breaking wagering and meaningful growth across our Membership community.
As we reflect on a standout period for the Club, here are some of the key highlights that defined a carnival to remember.
Racing is back! Continued growth in attendance
The Spring Carnival at Ascot – from Opening Day to Perth Cup Day, saw an 11% increase in overall attendance from 2024/5 season, meaning that we welcomed over 77,000 patrons and participants to the course in that time. Within that, The Pinnacles, supported by TABtouch, saw 15% growth in year-on-year attendances for our five feature Saturdays.
Three of our major racedays welcomed crowds of over 10,000 – TABtouch Melbourne Cup Day at Ascot (11,066), Swan Draught Railway Stakes Day (10,031) and TABtouch Perth Cup Day (11,076).
A new generation of Members
One of the most encouraging outcomes of the Spring Carnival has been the continued evolution of Perth Racing’s Membership base.
The proportion of Young Members has increased from 6% to 10% of the overall Membership, underpinned by Young Members now accounting for 28% of all new sign-ups in 2025 — a clear signal that racing at Ascot is resonating with a new generation.
This growth reflects our broader strategy of blending world-class racing with social, hospitality and lifestyle experiences that appeal to both long-standing Members and those discovering Perth Racing for the first time.
Overall, Membership is an attractive option for our customers, with 17% of this season’s Member base consisting of new or reinstated Members celebrating their first year or their return to Ascot.
Events that broadened the audience
The Spring Carnival once again demonstrated the power of pairing elite racing with contemporary entertainment.
A standout moment came on Swan Draught Railway Stakes Day, where international DJ Hot Dub Time Machine headlined post-race celebrations, helping deliver a bumper crowd and pushing attendance beyond the 10,000 mark — a significant achievement, given that the day was competing with the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium.
A high-profile Sporting Legends Day guest list of 20 sports stars, including Danny Green through his Stop the Coward Punch campaign, kicked the Spring Carnival off with a star-studded event that appealed to lifestyle media.
This fusion of racing, sport and entertainment has proven instrumental in attracting younger audiences and first-time racegoers to which Perth Racing will continue to explore in 2026.
Media coverage on a record scale
The Pinnacles Series achieved unprecedented visibility this season.
A story and photoshoot were secured for every Pinnacles raceday in either print or online with The West Australian, including a record-breaking Page 3 placement for four consecutive weeks kicking off the Pinnacles with a spectacular sunrise photoshoot with retired champion, Luckygray at Kings Park — an extraordinary endorsement of the prominence of the Series within Western Australia’s sporting and social calendar.
Melbourne Cup Day at Ascot further elevated the Club’s national profile, welcoming both the Today Show and Sunrise morning TV breakfast shows on course for extended live broadcasts of the race that stops the nation.
Social media taps into next gen
Digitally, Perth Racing generated more than 6.4 million organic views across social platforms during the Carnival, with over 77,000 engagements and 2,523 new followers, driven by particularly strong traction among younger audiences on TikTok and X, reflecting the growing digital profile of the Ascot Racing Carnival across Australia.
Wagering reaches new heights
Off-course wagering climbed strongly throughout the Series, with Winterbottom Stakes Day setting a new benchmark as the highest wagering day on record in Western Australia, according to international wagering provider Entain, parent company of Ladbrokes and Neds.
This milestone reflects the strength of the racing product and that people are spending again.
Food & beverage: A standout performer
Perth Racing’s hospitality and food and beverage offering continues to be a key pillar of the on-course experience. There were over 6,000 fine dining covers served in our two restaurants with retail F&B sales up 21% year-on-year for the season (Opening Day through to Perth Cup), a material uplift that reinforces the value of investing in premium and diverse hospitality experiences.
Looking ahead
With growing Membership, record wagering, strong media visibility and an increasingly diverse audience, the Club enters 2026 with confidence, momentum and an unwavering commitment to delivering racing and experiences of the highest calibre.
