NSWHRC Chairman Rex Horne announced major prizemoney increases for NSW.
UNBELIEVABLE - those were the words most were uttering following a major announcement in relation to prizemoney increases at Tabcorp Park Menangle today by the New South Wales Harness Racing Club.
All class of horses are catered for, with the elite through to the country performed pacer and trotter.
On the back of the sale of Harold Park, NSWHRC Chairman Rex Horne announced that close to six million dollars would go into prizemoney from June 30 this year which will be incorporated into stages.
The second stage (1 Jan 2012) of increases will have the most impact with the Miracle Mile going from $500,000 to $750,000, the NSW Derby and NSW Oaks up from $100,000 to $200,000, the Ladyship Mile from $100,000 to $200,000 and the same for the Len Smith Mile.
NSWHRC have also added a further automatic qualifier to the Miracle Mile in the Popular Alm Sprint, which will carry $75,000 in prizemoney. A week later the Cordina Sprint will increase from $50,000 to $75,000 and the same for the Bohemia Crystal.
The Chariots of Fire will hold its worth at $200,000 but there are increases in the qualifiers such as the Paleface Adios and Hondo Grattan from $20,000 to $40,000.
There will be 180 heats staged through the country circuit worth $8000 each with the finals to be run at Tabcorp Park Menangle being Metropolitan free. To be eligible horses much reach a certain criteria.
No horse stabled within a 100 kilometre radius of Tabcorp Park Menangle will be eligible and those horses must have been in its regional NSW stable for a period of at least 28 days.
Penrith (Renshaw Cup), Newcastle (Newcastle Mile) and Bulli (Linden Huntley Little Memorial) will all be given an additional $50,000 for their feature meeting to run metropolitan class support races.
The square-gaiters are also set to boom.
The Trotters Mile has increased from $50,000 to $100,000 whilst the Franco-Australia has increased by $20,000 to $40,000 and the Macarthur Cup up to $40,000. The Oaks and Derby have also increased to $40,000 races where previously $20,000.
To boost field capacity at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Monday and Tuesday programmes, each horse that faces the starter will receive a $50 fuel card. If the trainer starts five horses he/she will receive $250. Local trainers will be given a $25 fuel card per horse.
Horne also indicated that the NSWHRC intend to make Tabcorp Park the home of the Australian Derby and Oaks and are keen to secure rights to the Inter-Dominion.
Stage one will be from the new financial year 2011 to Dec 31 2011.
Country fronts from $8,000 to $10,000
M0-M1 from $14,000 to $16,000
M2 from $16,000 to $17,000
FFA Cups from $20,000 to $25,000
Stage 2; January 1 2012
Country Fronts $12,000
Winter C’Ship hts from $8,000 –to $14,000
M0-M1 $22,000
M2-M3 $24,000
M4+ $26,000
FFA Cups $40,000
Trotters;
T0 $12,000
Trotters heats $14,000
Metro Trot $22,000
NSW Oaks $40,000
NSW Derby $40,000
Macarthur Cup $40,000
Franco Australia $40,000
Features
Miracle Mile $750,000
NSW Oaks $200,000
NSW Derby $200,000
Ladyship Mile $200,000
Len Smith Mile $200,000
Cordina Sprint $75,000
Popular Alm Sprint $75,000
Bohemia Crystal $75,000
Trotters Mile $100,000
The above is a vast majority of the increases that NSWHRC have on the table, with many of the carnival lead in races to features being increased also.
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 31 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
Name: Dale Walker
Position: Marketing Manager
Phone: (02) 9722 6600
Email: dwalker@hrnsw.com.au
