Bookmakers have banded together to support an expanded men’s mental health racing weekend in all three codes in Queensland.
Saturday features the sixth year of the annual Men Matter Raceday at the Gold Coast Turf Club which raises awareness and funds for men’s health, with more than $500,000 raised for men’s health charities so far.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The concept has been expanded this year with the support of Racing Queensland through the Men Matter Weekend which will run from Friday until Sunday and feature all three racing codes.
It will include meetings at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club, Brisbane Racing Club and Mackay Turf Club alongside the Rockhampton Greyhounds and Redcliffe Harness Racing Club.
The major sponsors of various clubs, including TAB, Ladbrokes and PonyBet, will make a mental health charity donation to be associated with the finishing place of the animal which wears the No.7 saddlecloth or rug.
Supported by RQ, a $500 donation will be matched for first place, while $250 and $100 will be matched for second and third respectively.
Any unplaced No.7 runner will have a $50 donation matched by RQ and a bookmaker.
“The Gold Coast Turf Club’s Men Matter Raceday has established itself as a vital fundraiser for men’s mental health support and we are proud to be involved in its expansion in 2026,” RQ chairman Matt McGrath said.
“The number seven will play a key role in this year’s fundraising efforts.
“Sadly, seven Australian men take their own life each day whilst the seven rug in greyhound racing being the colour black symbolises the black dog and its association with mental health.
“It’s fantastic to see clubs from across the three codes come together to support this amazing initiative, alongside their wagering partners who have committed to matching every donation across the weekend.”
Funds raised through RQ’s tri-code initiative will support LIVIN, a non-profit mental health organisation founded in 2013, aspiring to create a future where suicide is no longer the number one killer of young Australians.
Bespoke saddlecloths will feature throughout the weekend to help raise awareness of the Men Matter partnership.
“TAB is proud to support this key fundraiser – we know men need to talk about their health more and the Men Matter Raceday has started so many conversations that wouldn’t have happened without it,“ TAB chief wagering officer Michael Fitzsimons said.
“We take our responsibility at TAB to invest in the industry seriously and supporting events like this at the Gold Coast is an important part of that.”
Originally published as Racing Queensland and bookmakers unite to raise vital funds for men’s mental health