By Bren O'Brien
Racing NSW has announced another raft of new prizemoney increases, this time aimed at boosting country racing carnivals, while also announcing a new bet type which will help the funding of the $7.5m Golden Eagle.
Coming less than month after Racing NSW announced a huge boost to prizemoney for the Everest carnival, the spending spree has spread statewide, with eight country cups, including Port Macquarie, Goulburn, Albury, Wellington, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Scone and Grafton to now carry a purse of $200,000.
The Coffs Harbour and Muswellbrook Cups will receive an increase in prizemoney to $150,000 each, while the Taree Cup, Dubbo Cup and Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai rise to $100,000.
There have been also significant prizemoney increases for feature meetings at Lismore, Coonamble, Coonabarabran, Mudgee, Moruya, Bega and Orange.
The purse for the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup has risen to $200,000
“A key strategic priority of Racing NSW is for country racing to continue to stage great carnivals and Cup Race meetings and to ensure that thoroughbred racing is widely celebrated and enjoyed throughout all of NSW, not just Sydney and the Provincials," Racing NSW Chairman, Russell Balding, said.
“Thoroughbred racing, dressing up, heading to the races and having a bet is part of what we do."
“A key strategic priority of Racing NSW is for country racing to continue to stage great carnivals and Cup Race meetings." - Russell Balding
“The prizemoney increases for these meetings, along with the marketing and promotion of the Carnivals themselves, particularly to the younger demographic, will lift NSW Country Racing to a whole new level."
The increases take total annual prizemoney to be paid for country racing in NSW to more than $81 million which is an increase of $48 million or 145% since 2012.
It's an initiative which has the full support of the NSW state government.
The initiative has the full support of the NSW state government
“The increase in prizemoney is not only good for racing, but has great flow on effects for regional communities," Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said.
“It’s no secret that our regional communities are doing it tough, especially given this unprecedented drought, so investing in racedays can help drive tourism and increase bed nights which is crucial to our local economies."
“Racing is more than just an event in regional communities, it’s part of the culture, which is why we want to continue to make racing as enjoyable and accessible as possible.”
“Racing is more than just an event in regional communities, it’s part of the culture." - Kevin Anderson
Racing NSW also joined with TAB to launch a new bet type 'Odds and Evens', which is a parimutuel produce targeted at a younger demographic.
"The bet type is not only simple, but it is entertaining," Balding said.
"Importantly, it is utilising the mobile digital devices that the younger demographic use today. And so we are looking to reach out and access that younger demographic, particularly also those people who may not have access to the detailed race form that a lot of us do have."
To maximise liquidity of the new product, the pool is merged with quinella bets.
The bet type will assist in funding the Golden Eagle, which will be staged for the first time this year at Rosehill on November 2.
