The Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival is held in Australia's only island state which is the state of Tasmania. The state itself is situated in the southern part of Australia across the Bass Straight which can be reached by either air or sea. Hobart is the capital city of Tasmania and is located around 600 kilometres south of Melbourne.

Metropolitan racing in Tasmania is held at Hobart and Launceston racecourses and Tasmanian racing does not conduct any Group 1 or Group 2 events. The three major races on the racing calendar each year are all Group 3 races, although there are a number of listed races held over the summer period.

The $150,000 Group 3 Bow Mistress Trophy over 1200 metres for fillies & mares is the first group race of the year in Tasmania and takes place on Tasmanian Derby Day in early February at Hobart racecourse. The $100,000 Listed Tasmanian Derby for three-year-olds over 2200 metres was downgraded from Group 3 to Listed status during the 2011/2012 racing season.

The Hobart track is also home to Tasmania's biggest race of the year, the $225,000 Group 3 Hobart Cup for open gallopers over 2200 metres and takes place in mid February.

Launceston's major race takes place midweek on a Wednesday afternoon in late February with the running of the $225,000 Gr3 Launceston Cup over 2400 metres.

Both clubs also hold listed stakes races in the months of November and December.