Amazing line-up to bring trackside anthems to Newcastle Carnival of Cups

17 September 2025
Logo
Reigning Golden Guitar female artist of the year Max Jackson and multi ARIA-award winner Alex Lloyd at the Newcastle Carnival of Cups launch today.

Reigning Golden Guitar female artist of the year Max Jackson and multi ARIA-award winner Alex Lloyd at the Newcastle Carnival of Cups launch today. Photo by HRNSW

Multi ARIA-award winner Alex Lloyd and reigning Golden Guitar female artist of the year Max Jackson will be part of a massive trackside entertainment line-up when the Harness Racing New South Wales TAB Carnival of Cups series heads to Newcastle on December 5.

The Newcastle Harness Racing Club will host the second leg of the upcoming series, which will feature the inaugural running of the $60,000 The Steel City Cup and the $75,000 TAB Regional Championships Hunter Final.

Tickets for the Carnival of Cups are FREE, but patrons do need to go online and register to secure their spot.

Today marks the first of two major announcements for the Newcastle leg of the series, with Harness Racing New South Wales keeping the identity of the headline act who will perform after the last race a secret – for now!

Local favourites Ignita and Just Us Duo have also been enlisted as part of the blockbuster cast of performers who will lay the soundtrack for the event.

“The Carnival of Cups has built such a strong reputation in a short amount of time and we’re really fortunate that some of the biggest names and bands in Australia are reaching out to us asking for the chance to perform on our trackside stage,” HRNSW Chief Executive Peter Buckman said.

“So for now, we’re building a bit of suspense and mystery about the identity of our headline act for Newcastle but I can assure race-goers you won’t be disappointed. We’ll make that announcement in the lead-up to the event and I have no doubt tickets will be in high-demand because of it.”

Newcastle marks a return to the Carnival of Cups stage for Alex Lloyd, after being part of the Goulburn line-up in Season 1. He has been a hugely popular part of the entertainment offering with his iconic anthem Amazing at the past two TAB Eureka events.

Local success Max Jackson is one of the leading lights on the Australian country music scene, having been crowned the best female artist and winning single of the year at the annual Golden Guitar awards earlier this year.

“This line-up offers something for everyone and with the way we do it at the Carnival of Cups the entertainment is non-stop, on and off the track,” Mr Buckman said.

The Carnival of Cups at the Newcastle Harness Racing Club is an all-ages family-friendly event, with kids entertainment and activities, full concerts on the trackside stage and the running of two major features on a stellar eight-race program.

Tickets are free but you do need to register online to secure your spot. To get your tickets now CLICK HERE

 

Related News

10 March 2026
Sea Fury salutes for Tabone in Wangaratta Cup
Recent stable addition Sea Fury provided Luke Tabone with a ‘local’ win on Sunday night. Moving from Bacchus Marsh to Shepparton, Tabone captured the Wangaratta Pacing Cup, which was also transferred to Shepparton this season. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THETROTS.COM.AU
10 March 2026
Grimson's three-pronged Miracle Mile attack
Menangle Park trainer Jason Grimson will make a three-pronged attack on this Saturday night’s $1million Garrards Miracle Mile at Club Menangle. The premier sprint which is recognised internationally was first run in 1967 and was won by Robin Dundee who posted a record-breaking time of 1:59. Over...
10 March 2026
Star Fillies from the Same Family
Nonagenarian Victorian breeder Helen Head has nominated two fillies for the Australian Pacing Gold Sydney Yearling Sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday, March 15 – both from the same maternal family. The pair trace back to the prized matron Madame Han, a mare that Helen and her late husband Graham Head,...
10 March 2026
Jacqui Ingham Excited about Sydney Sale
Young Dubbo horsewoman Jacqui Ingham is looking forward to the Australian Pacing Gold Sydney Yearling Sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday, March 15. Ingham and Camden town planner Michael Brown have entered a lovely King Of Swing filly, who is closely related to the superstar pacer Lochinvar Art as Lot 241....
10 March 2026
GOODFORM - Ryan's tips and Quaddie for Echuca Tuesday night
Echuca – Tuesday, 10 March 2026 Race 1: OVERVIEW: THE LADYBIRD (1) gets her best draw in some time to use her gate speed here over the short trip and attempt to hold the horse drawn alongside and lead. Her runs have been quite good lately and this looks her best chance to return to the winners...
Click for more