Jumping for joy - Chris Burton wins the Magic Millions British Open Championship in 2018 with the prize presented by Katie Harvey and the Princess Royal
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Show jumping in Australia has received a massive $1 million boost with a new initiative announced by Coolmore Stud and Magic Millions.
Following the inaugural invitational $100,000 show jumping event held as part of the Magic Millions Festival on the Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia recently, it has been announced that Coolmore Stud will inject a record $1 million prize money for the event in 2023.
Brisbane, Queensland will host the 2032 Olympic Games and it seems that Olympic fever combined with the racing industry’s desire to improve the lot of off the track thoroughbreds has captured the imagination of Magic Millions co-owner Kate Page and Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier
We really want to bring our show jumpers through in Australia and the best way of doing it is to put money on the table,” Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page has told the Daily Telegraph “A million dollars has never been done in this country.”
The two instigators of the event have personal experience of show jumping life; Katie Page’s daughter Georgie is a show jumper based in Europe while Tom Magnier grew up show jumping before turning his hand to running the family business at Coolmore Stud.
Katie Page also has links with eventing through the Magic Millions sponsorship of the Festival of British Eventing while Zara Tindall is a regular visitor to the Magic Millions and was the inaugural Racing Women Ambassador. Katie was also part owner of Jefferson 18, a horse previously ridden by Chris Burton who will now be campaigned by Bubby Upton
No doubt several Australian eventing riders will be looking to compete for the $1 million prize money at the Magic Millions Show jumping in January 2023 and, although quarantine may pose a slight problem, maybe we’ll even see some overseas interest?
