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TAB has signed on as the naming rights sponsor of the 2019 Birdsville Cup, following UBET's inaugural sponsorship of the race in 2018.
The deal follows an announcement from Racing Queensland earlier this year to expand country TAB offerings with the iconic Birdsville races becoming a fully funded country TAB meeting for the first time in its 137-year history.
Overall prizemoney for the carnival's 13-race program rises to a record $233,500, up 14 per cent on 2018 with prizemoney to be awarded to the first 10 finishers in all events.
The TAB Birdsville Cup will be worth a record-equalling $40,000 while prizemoney for the feature sprint – the Road Tech Marine Handicap – will increase to $25,000.
TAB betting facilities will be available at the Birdsville racecourse as well as nationwide TAB outlets and online and al race will be telecast by Sky Racing.
"We are thrilled to have TAB on board as the naming rights sponsor of the 2019 Birdsville Cup and Sky Racing as our national telecast partner," said Birdsville Race Club vice president Gary Brook.
"Distance and location are no longer barriers to being able to watch and bet on the Melbourne Cup of the outback."
More than 7000 hardy racegoers are expected to travel to Birdsville, located in the south west corner of Queensland on the edge of the Simpson Desert, for the two-day carnival on September 6 and 7.