The Spring Racing Carnival is almost here and Draftstars is bringing back its popular Racing Star Tournament for 2026, with $30,000 in total prize money up for grabs.
Racing Star will run across some of Australia's biggest racing meetings over the next three months, starting with the Vain Stakes meeting on Saturday, August 15 and culminating in an exclusive 18-entry final on Champions Day at Flemington on Saturday, November 7.
The eventual Racing Star champion will collect $10,000 in total prize money, while every player who manages to qualify for the final is guaranteed at least $500.
How Does the 2026 Draftstars Racing Star Work?
Draftstars will hold 18 Racing Star Qualifiers throughout the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival.
Each qualifier is attached to a major racing meeting, with the outright winner earning a ticket into the Racing Star Final.
As soon as a player wins a qualifier, they receive the tournament's minimum $500 cash prize. They then take their place in the 18-entry Racing Star Final, where the remainder of the $30,000 prize pool is decided.
For example, the eventual champion receives another $9,500 for winning the final, taking their total Racing Star winnings to $10,000.
Players can qualify for a maximum of two entries into the Racing Star Final.
If a player who already holds the maximum two tickets wins another qualifier, the qualifying entry will instead be awarded to the second-placed player, subject to Draftstars' tiebreaker rules.
2026 Racing Star Qualifiers
Draftstars has confirmed 18 qualifying opportunities across the Spring Carnival.
The schedule takes in many of the biggest racing meetings in Melbourne and Sydney:
- Vain Stakes
- Winx Stakes
- Memsie Stakes
- Moir Stakes
- Makybe Diva Stakes
- Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
- Golden Rose
- Manikato Stakes
- Turnbull Stakes
- Epsom Stakes
- Caulfield Guineas
- Caulfield Cup
- The Everest
- Cox Plate
- Derby Day
- Golden Eagle
- Melbourne Cup
- Oaks Day
The first ticket goes on the line at the Vain Stakes meeting on Saturday, August 15, before the qualifiers continue throughout the major spring meetings.
The final qualifier takes place on Oaks Day, just two days before the Racing Star Final.
$30,000 Racing Star Prize Pool
Every player who qualifies is guaranteed at least $500, which is paid immediately upon winning a qualifier.
The overall tournament payouts are:
| Finish |
Total Racing Star Prize |
| 1st |
$10,000 |
| 2nd |
$5,000 |
| 3rd |
$2,500 |
| 4th |
$2,000 |
| 5th |
$1,500 |
| 6th–10th |
$1,000 |
| 11th–18th |
$500 |
Because the initial $500 is paid when the ticket is won, the final itself pays an additional $9,500 to first, $4,500 to second, $2,000 to third, $1,500 to fourth, $1,000 to fifth and $500 to players finishing sixth through tenth.
Players finishing 11th through 18th receive no additional final payment, having already collected their guaranteed $500 when qualifying.
When Is the 2026 Racing Star Final?
The 2026 Draftstars Racing Star Final takes place on Saturday, November 7, using the Champions Day meeting at Flemington.
Only the 18 qualifying entries will be able to participate, meaning the Racing Star Final cannot simply be entered through the regular Draftstars lobby.
Players must first earn their ticket by winning one of the designated Spring Carnival qualifiers.
What Happens if a Racing Star Qualifier Ends in a Tie?
Only one qualifying ticket is available from each Racing Star Qualifier.
If two or more players finish tied for first, Draftstars will place the tied players into a separate tiebreaker contest.
The tiebreaker uses another nominated Draftstars slate, with the highest-scoring player earning the Racing Star ticket.
Tiebreakers continue if necessary until a single winner remains.
How Does Draftstars Horse Racing Work?
Draftstars Racing differs from the salary-cap fantasy format used for sports such as AFL, NRL and cricket.
For racing contests, players select one horse from each race on the nominated meeting.
Selections score according to their tote dividends, rewarding players who can find successful horses throughout the card.
This creates a different strategic challenge to simply backing individual runners. Finding a longer-priced winner can produce a significant score, while consistently selecting horses that win or place can keep a lineup in contention across the meeting.
For Racing Star qualifiers, the goal is simple: finish with more Draftstars points than every other entrant and the ticket to the November final is yours.
Click here to create a Draftstars account and join in on the Racing Star this Spring!
