Racing war heats up as Spring Carnival prize money hits $100m

Victoria always has been the epicentre of racing in Australia and the latest prizemoney increase re-confirms its place at the top of the pile, while its poor neighbour NSW can only look on with envy.

Cross Counter races away to win the 2018 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Michael Klein

Racing Victoria has upped the ante in the racing war with New South Wales, boosting the spring carnival prize money to an enormous $100 million.

The cash injection means the carnival’s treasure pot will be $18 million bigger than last year’s.

And the prize pool now dwarfs the $45 million total on offer in Racing NSW’s revamped eight-week spring program.

JUST MISSED: TRAINER’S CRAZY CALL ALMOST COMES OFF

COURT RULING: TRAINER FINED FOR SPRAYING STEWARDS

JOCKEY MOVE: I’LL GIVE IT A RED HOT CRACK: BOSS

Racing Victoria’s unprecedented move is designed to ensure the country’s best horses, jockeys and trainers compete in Melbourne.

The boost includes an increase in Melbourne Cup prize money to $8 million — revealed by the Herald Sun last month.

There will also be an extra $2.3 million spread across the prestigious Victoria Derby Day at Flemington — taking the prize pot to $10.2 million — to combat NSW’s introduction of the $7.5 million Golden Eagle race on the same date.

Cross Counter races away to win the 2018 Melbourne Cup. Picture: AAP Images

Victorian Derby race winnings will remain at $2 million, but cash for other races across the day will increase.

Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson said the investment would keep Melbourne at the forefront of global racing, with the Spring Carnival delivering a $760 million economic benefit to Victoria.

“We are committed to again showcasing the best horses, jockeys and trainers from Australia and abroad across the carnival’s most prestigious and coveted races,” Mr Thompson said.

Racing Victoria, the State Government and the Victoria Racing Club will formally announce the spending windfall on Thursday.

NSW racing officials have also switched the $14 million The Everest to clash with the $5 million Caulfield Cup race. The Caulfield Cup Day program will carry almost $7 million in prize money.

Other key elements of Racing Victoria’s big Spring spend, include:

NEW bonuses worth up to $4 million for horses that compete in and win multiple feature races;

INCREASING the purse for the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic on the last day of Melbourne Cup week from $1 million to $2 million;

THE Ballarat Cup becoming Australia’s richest country cup, rising from $350,000 to $500,000, as well as increases for the Cranbourne, Geelong and Bendigo cups; and

A $400,000 “Star of the Saddle” prize pool to reward the leading jockey on each of the carnival’s five most important days.

Kerrin McEvoy celebrates after winning the 2018 Melbourne Cup. Picture: AAP Images

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup, Stella Artois Caulfield Cup and Ladbrokes Cox Plate have shaped the history of Australian racing and will do so again this year, while the stallion-making Caulfield Guineas and Coolmore Stud Stakes will crown our next superstars,” Mr Thompson said.

Racing Minister Martin Pakula said this promised to be “the best Spring Racing Carnival yet”.

“Racing across the board will benefit — from Group 1s at Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley to cup-day cards at Cranbourne and Bendigo — and that’s great news for carnival-goers and the many thousands of people who work in the industry,” Mr Pakula said.

Victoria Racing Club chair Amanda Elliott last month declared racing jurisdictions should be penalised for throwing money at “novelty races” to vie with major carnivals.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys, the brains behind The Everest and The Golden Eagle races, said last month the Victoria’s racing industry should be glad Racing NSW was introducing more prize money.

“Without us all the millions of dollars in prize money increases in Victoria wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Huge crowds hit Flemington during the Flemington Carnival. Picture: Jason Edwards

“The Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate hadn’t moved up in prizemoney for years and all of a sudden they’ve realised they’ve got to return money to their participants.”

Mrs Elliott said the increase for the Flemington Carnival wasn’t aimed at hitting back at Racing NSW, but was part of the club’s long-term plans.

“Cup Week is the jewel in the crown of Australian racing and this is the first part of an ambitious long-term strategic vision that the Board and broader team at the VRC are bringing to life,” Mrs Elliott said.

RACING VICTORIA’S $100 MILLION CASH SPLASH

FLEMINGTON

* Melbourne Cup

Prize money raised $700,000 to $8 million

* The Bart Cummings

Prizemoney increased from $300,000 to $500,000 for the Melbourne Cup qualifying race at Flemington on Saturday, October 5

* Victoria Derby Day

$2.3 million boost for Derby Day, which will feature four races of $1 million or more for the first time:

— $2 million Victoria Derby

— $2 million Kennedy Mile — up $1 million

— $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes — up $500,000

— $1 million Empire Rose Stakes — up $500,000

— $500,000 The Carbine Club Stakes — up $300,000

* VRC Sprint Classic

Prizemoney doubled to $2 million for the 1200m Group 1 sprint race on Saturday, November 9 to sit alongside the $2 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.

(2000m).

Extra Brut won the 2018 Derby. Picture: Jay Town

CAULFIELD

* Group 1 Thousand Guineas

Prizemoney will be doubled to $1 million for the Group 1 1600m event for elite three-year-old fillies to sit alongside the stallion-making Group 1 $2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Prizemoney for the Thousand Guineas Prelude and Caulfield Guineas Prelude has each been increased to $250,000.

* Caulfield Cup Carnival, Day 2

Prizemoney increased for the Blue Sapphire Stakes from $350,000 to $500,000 and the addition of the Coongy Handicap (2000m) which moves from day three and will carry increased prizemoney of $200,000 and the final ballot exemption into the $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) three days later on October 19.

THE VALLEY

* Cox Plate

— Bonus 1: Any horse that has won or wins the following Victorian feature races in 2019 and the 2019 Cox Plate will be eligible for a $1 million bonus: The All-Star Mile, Australian Guineas, Australian Cup, Alister Clark Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes, Feehan Stakes, Underwood Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Toorak Handicap, Caulfield Guineas, Thousand Guineas or Caulfield Stakes.

— Bonus 2: Any three-year-old that completes the following will be eligible for a $1 million bonus:

1. Competes in either the Stutt Stakes, Caulfield Guineas Prelude or Thousand Guineas Prelude; and.

2. Competes in either the Caulfield Guineas or Thousand Guineas; and

3. Wins the 2019 Cox Plate

* Night racing

The Valley will showcase two $1 million Group 1 weight-for-age sprints under lights for the first time with prizemoney for the Moir Stakes (1000m) being doubled to join the $1 million Manikato Stakes (1200m).

The Autumn Sun won the 2018 Caulfield Guineas. Picture: Jay Town

BLACK TYPE MINIMUMS

* An additional $8 million is being invested across 63 Group and Listed races throughout the Spring Racing Carnival including increases to minimum prizemoney for all Group 2, Group 3 and Listed metropolitan races from Turnbull Stakes Day (5 October) to Mackinnon Stakes Day (9 November).

COUNTRY SERIES

* An additional $700,000 for the third annual Melbourne Cup Tour Country Series which is run exclusively for country Victorian trainers without a metropolitan base nationwide. The $1.3 million series will feature eight $100,000 heats (up from $50,000 each) and a $500,000 final at Flemington over 1600m on Oaks Day.

BALLARAT CUP DAY

* An additional $500,000 invested across the Ballarat Cup Day program. Ballarat Cup will be reduced from 2200m to 2000m and the prizemoney increased from $350,000 to $500,000 making it the nation’s richest country cup. A total of $1.8 million in prizemoney will be on offer.

COUNTRY CUPS

*Prizemoney has been raised for the second year running for the following major country cups:

— Cranbourne Cup — up $50,000 to $400,000

— Geelong Cup — up $50,000 to $400,000

— Bendigo Cup — up $50,000 to $400,000

STAR OF THE SADDLE

The following cash prizes will be on offer for the jockey who is the Star of the Saddle accruing the most points on each day:

— Turnbull Stakes Day (Flemington, 5 October) — $50,000

— Caulfield Guineas Day (Caulfield, 12 October) — $50,000

— Caulfield Cup Day (Caulfield, 19 October) — $100,000

— Cox Plate Carnival (The Valley, 25-26 October) — $100,000

— Derby Day (Flemington, 2 November) — $100,000

The conditions for the Star of the Saddle will be released prior to the commencement of the Spring Racing Carnival.