HARNESS Racing New South Wales, along with Club Menangle, will introduce a schedule of races for all mares at metropolitan meetings.
This compliments the state-wide strategy for additional fillies and mares events as previously announced.
Prizemoney for these Tabcorp Park Menangle races will start at $20,000 for Division 1, $14,000 for Division 2 and $9,000 for Division 3.
The $14,000 Division 2 purse is additional to the prizemoney offered by Club Menangle and is funded by HRNSW, with these races also being additional to the set race program.
The top 10 mares on prizemoney won last five starts will race for $20,000, the next 10 mares (11 to 20) for $14,000 on Saturday nights and the next 12 (21 to 32) for $9,000 on Tuesdays.
This initiative is based on stakeholder feedback and the desire to provide opportunities for mares to race their own sex for higher levels of prizemoney according to HRNSW chief executive John Dumesny.
“When you consider the bare facts that near 40 per cent of the racing pool are mares, additional opportunities must be created,” Dumesny said.
“In conjunction to what Club Menangle already offers, there will be an additional $28,000 on offer each month for these mares’ races from HRNSW funding.
“With the support of trainers through nominations, that could equate to $336,000 for the year and extra races for mares to the normal program.
“A benefit which owners of interstate based mares should seize is that from July 1 all mares despite their assessment, will be eligible to enter these Menangle races.”
Like the current metropolitan handicapping system, the field selection and barrier positions in these mares-only races will be based on prizemoney won in the last five starts.
A trial period of three months will begin from July where mares-only races will be programmed at Tabcorp Park Menangle fortnightly.
This initiative compliments the recently announced $288,000 state-wide program of additional races for fillies and mares on standard eight-race programs at tracks other than Tabcorp Park Menangle.
These fillies and mares races are guaranteed with six original nominations and will be programmed every week throughout the season from region to region.
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Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 33 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by a Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
AMANDA RANDO | MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
(02) 9722 6600 • arando@hrnsw.com.au • @Amanda_Rando
