The 2019 Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival will commence in Rockhampton next week with a record $2.7 million in prize money on offer through to September.

Scone trainer Brett Cavanough has rejected an offer to take over the interim training of horses prepared at Toowoomba by under fire trainer Ben Currie.

The Sunshine Cost will host its biggest ever race day after changes to the Queensland winter carnival.

The Queensland government has announced a $12 million injection of prize money into the three racing codes.

Queensland officials are hoping to attract top horses for a summer carnival which offers more than $16 million in prize money and bonus payments.