Matt Reid previews the start of the 26/27 Launceston Night Racing Season

Starting a fortnight earlier than it did in 2025, the 2026/27 Launceston Night Racing Season begins on Wednesday with a seven-race program.

It has essentially been a five-month hiatus from thoroughbred action at Ladbrokes Racing Centre Mowbray, with the last meeting at the track on 17 April.

All up, the Night Season will include 22 meetings, with 12 on Friday night, running through until the end of April 2027.

The thoroughbred surface has undergone significant renovations since the last meeting, and Track Manager Nick Van Loon is excited to have racing back.

“I’m extremely happy with the track. There’s a thick cushion of fresh grass as you would expect after having five months off,” said Van Loon.

The rail is at +5m for the entire circuit, with a forecast of around 15 degrees and a few showers, befitting the earlier start to the Night Season.

“We’re at a Soft 5 on Monday, with a light shower or two predicted on Tuesday. I’d expect we will stay pretty close to that 5 range for the meeting.”

The 3-5m rail bracket produces the highest percentage of on-pace winners, according to Rail Statistics provided by Daily Sectionals dating back to October 2023. Across 21 meetings in that period, 55.17% of races have been won by horses settling in the lead/on-pace, which may provide punters with a guide to how the track may race at the return meeting.

“With no wear on the track and the rail at +5m, I suspect the rail will be the spot to be,” said Van Loon when asked how he thinks the track may race.

“We move out to +8m for the meeting on the 25th (September), and then we come back into true.”

The first race on Wednesday night is at 17:23, and the last race is at 20:30. Matt Reid and Colin McNiff will be trackside to host coverage on Tasracing Live and Sky Thoroughbred Central.