A $10 million NSW government boost to Sydney's autumn carnival had depended on fixed dates rather than events being built around the ever-moving Easter weekend.The Sydney Turf Club (STC) will hold its Golden Slipper meeting on the first Saturday in April from 2009 meaning it will run its premier day on Easter Saturday in 2010 and 2012.Easter Saturday has traditionally been allocated to the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) with its Derby held on that day.Because of the movement of Easter, the Sydney

A $10 million NSW government boost to Sydney's autumn carnival had depended on fixed dates rather than events being built around the ever-moving Easter weekend.

The Sydney Turf Club (STC) will hold its Golden Slipper meeting on the first Saturday in April from 2009 meaning it will run its premier day on Easter Saturday in 2010 and 2012.

Easter Saturday has traditionally been allocated to the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) with its Derby held on that day.

Because of the movement of Easter, the Sydney carnival races have often clashed with Melbourne, which ends its carnival in March, and has run into the early races of the Brisbane winter.

The government run Events NSW will provide up to $10 million over the next four years to support the autumn carnival.

"We have been in talks with Events NSW since the last carnival," Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said.

"Events NSW did a complete and independent assessment and it was pivotal to any funding that there was a fixed format for dates.

"We had to give a decision and the decision has been made."

That decision did not sit well with the AJC which will have Easter Saturday, April 11, next year but will have to wait until 2020 to host the Derby on that day again.

"We are extremely disappointed the AJC has been forced to relinquish many of its Easter Saturday race days," AJC chief executive Norman Gillespie said.

"We are supportive of our racing carnival gaining higher profile and delighted it is at last recognised as a signature event on the Sydney events calendar.

"However we believe it could have been achieved without losing the important link between Easter Saturday and Royal Randwick.

"It did not need to be at such a cost to the AJC."

STC chairman Alan Brown said his club embraced the concept as it gave certainty to sponsors and participants as well as the financial boost from Events NSW.

"It is the first time there has been a commitment from the government for the Sydney autumn," Brown said.

"There are conditions attached and it is something we must embrace."

"This decision can't please everybody, however in the overall scheme of things i think it's got enormous potential.

"We as stakeholders should and will get totally behind this proposal."

The fixed dates have pleased thoroughbred auctioneers William Inglis and Son with managing director Mark Webster saying it will give Australia even more presence in the international arena.

"We will stick with the brand of it being the Easter sale, we can live with it being a couple of weeks either side of Easter," Webster said.

"It's important for our business and the interests of international buyers and racing enthusiasts to have the sale on a firm date.

"Our sale will begin on the Sunday, the day after the Golden Slipper."

Events NSW has put forward several proposals including the concept of two "Super Saturdays", one at Rosehill on Slipper day, the other at Randwick seven days later.