THE Cranbourne Turf Club is one of the big winners after Racing Victoria last week announced a $16.5 million increase to prize-money for the new racing season.
The increase, effective from 1 August, is aimed primarily at rewarding participation at the base level of the sport and providing owners with the potential for earlier returns.
Country racing and first time winners are amongst the major beneficiaries of the increase.
More than two-thirds of the prize-money is headed to country Victoria, with a minimum 25 per cent increase for all country TAB races, excluding 0-58 races.
Maiden races, which represent 33 percent of the state’s TAB races, now hold a minimum $20,000 stake, country premier maidens $23,000, country night maidens $25,000 and midweek metropolitan maidens $27,000.
Pakenham’s entry into night racing in January next year is timely, with a minimum $25,000 on offer for races held at Victoria’s two country-night venues, Cranbourne and Pakenham.
“This is great news for Victorian racing and for our members. The Victorian ATA is particularly pleased to have played a strong role in the development of the prize-money strategy which will deliver benefits to all levels of Victorian racing,” Australian Trainers Association Victorian Branch president Robbie Griffiths said.
Race Type 2014/15 2015/16 Increase % Increase
Country TAB 0-58 $15,000 $16,000 $1,000 6.7%
Country TAB All Races (excluding 0-58) $15,000 $20,000 $5,000 33.3%
Country Premier Maidens and BM64 $17,500 $23,000 $5,500 31.4%
Country Premier BM70 and above $17,500 $30,000 $12,500 71.4%
Country Night $20k races (6 per meeting) $20,000 $25,000 $5,000 25.0%
Country Night $25k races (2 per meeting) $25,000 $30,000 $5,000 20.0%
Country Non-TAB Minimums $8,000 $10,000 $2,000 25.0%
Metro Midweek/Standard Night Maidens $25,000 $27,000 $2,000 8.0%
Metro Midweek/Standard Night 3YOs $35,000 $40,000 $5,000 14.3%
Metro Midweek/Standard Night BM70 $35,000 $40,000 $5,000 14.3%
Metro Saturday Open Handicaps $80,000 $90,000 $10,000 12.5%
RACE DEFINITIONS
Country TAB
Monday, Tuesday (June-January), Thursday (February-May), Friday afternoons (when preceding a night meeting), Saturday, Sunday No. 2 meeting.
Country Premier
Tuesday (February-May), Wednesday, Thursday (June-January), Friday afternoons (when no night meeting follows), Sunday No. 1 meeting.
Country Night
All Thursday and Friday night meetings held at Cranbourne and Pakenham.
Country Non-TAB
Selected meetings held at country racecourses excluding picnic meetings.
Metro Standard Night
Moonee Valley Friday night meetings.
