Harness Racing Victoria
Sunday October 21, 2018
Government commits to extra funding for stakes increase if re-elected
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has welcomed tonight’s news that a re-elected Labor Government would see record prizemoney paid out in Victoria over the next two years.
Speaking at the annual Gordon Rothacker Medal presentation dinner at Crown Palladium, Racing Minister Martin Pakula unveiled an additional $6m commitment from the Andrews State Government to harness racing should it win the next election.
HRV said it would pass on the additional funding if secured to industry participants through increased stakemoney at all levels from 1 January. The changes would be:
Restricted class races increased from $4000 to $4500
$5000 Career Penalty races increased to $7000
Metropolitan class races increased from $16,000 and $18,000 to $20,000
Semi-feature metropolitan class races increased from $20,000 to $24,000
A $10,000 minimum race stake would be applied on all metropolitan nights at Melton
Country Cup prizemoney increased by $222,500
Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup prizemoney increased from $200,000 to $250,000
Minimum payment for fifth to last increased to $140
Quotes from HRV Chairman Dale Monteith
“Harness Racing Victoria welcomes tonight’s significant funding commitment from the Andrews State Government should it win the next election. This additional $6million would enable us to increase prizemoney further over the next two years after paying out more prizemoney than ever before in season 2017-18. This will benefit all industry participants as the stakes increase will be across a range of classes, from restricted races right through to Grand Circuit level.”
“Feedback from the industry has consistently been that $5000 career penalty races are not popular, so we would lift the minimum stake for a career penalty race to $7000. HRV would also take steps to increase both the quantity of metro races and the associated prizemoney.”
“An increase in restricted class prizemoney to $4500 would increase to $140 the payment for horses that finish from fifth to last place, and thereby help alleviate some of the pressure on trainers arising from costs such as petrol and feed.”
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