Originally Posted by
codywinnell
Hi Jack,
I'd be interested in knowing how you come up with your figures.
The stakes increases you have referenced by saying "a classic example of this down here in vic, is the latest prize money increases nearly all of it went into big races". are quite interesting.
The following is the full list of stakes increases that were announced by Victoria. Can you please define what you mean by "nearly all" in the above statement? I'll bold the bits where I think you've erred.
• Graduation races from $3000 to $3500 (42 meetings a year)
• Metropolitan front M1 and TM1 or better class events by $1000 a race
• Country fillies and mares races by $1000 a race (excluding Futurity races)
• Country penalty races at Tabcorp Park Melton metropolitan meetings by $1000 a race
• Payments for horses that finish sixth to last increase by $10.
• Listed metropolitan feature races from $25,000 to $30,000 (and become Group 3 events)
• Hunter Cup from $400,000 to $500,000
• 4YO & 5YO Championship from $50,000 to $75,000
• 4YO Bonanza from $30,000 to $100,000 (becomes Victoria’s first non-Futurity Group 1 for four-year-olds)
• Vicbred First Win bonus for 4YOs increases from $5000 to $7000 in line with 2YO and 3YO bonuses (estimated increase of $430,000)
• Country Pacing Cups prize money increases by $154,000
• Country Trotting Cups prize money increases by $57,000
• Maori Mile at Bendigo from $30,000 to $50,000 (becomes a Group 1)
When you consider Vicbred First Win Bonus changing to include 4yos alone is estimated at an increase of $430,000, and the increases in stakes opportunities for graduation races, of which there are 42 meetings annually, country fillies and mares races, country penalty races at Melton and increased earnings for horses that finish 6th to last, I'd challenge your expressed views as being rather flawed.
We all know country trots folk need to be able to race for enough prizemoney to earn a proper crust, which is why I think the most recent stakes announcement here in Victoria was so encouraging and a step in the right direction.