Thoroughbred racing came to town today literally.

Horses, jockeys and fashions were all in the Queen Street Mall.

The Brisbane Racing Club staged the event to promote the upcoming Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm.

Katrina Mawer reports.

TRANSCRIPT

You can bet “Stradbroke in the City” took many city slickers by surprise.

It was trackside in the mall with all the colour of race day.

The event, riding demonstrations, and phantom race call.

Organisers hope it’s odds on to attract more than 20,000 people to the track on June the 8th.

Tracy Grierson, Brisbane Racing Club: “We’re expecting around 20,000 to the track for AAMI Stradebroke Day so it’s a huge crowd for us and a huge event for Brisbane.”

For the fillies the event featured several fashions on the field parades.

MC Sofie Formica says Stradbroke Day is a chance for people to put their best fashion foot forward.

Sofie Formica, Racing Carnival Ambassador: “It’s a day where, really, people do dress to the nines. It’s probably the busiest day trackside and the theme is always black, white with a dash of red.”

Jockey Chris Munce says events like today are integral to making the sport more appealing.

Chris Munce, Jockey: “The more people involved and get to understand our sport and our environment. It’s a great industry, the more people get behind it the better.”

He says the carnival will showcase Queensland’s best thoroughbreds.

The racing industry has suffered a significant blow in the wake of recent scandals but it’s events like Stradbroke in the City that it’s hoped will attract people trackside.

Katrina Mawer, QUT News.