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Racing NSW today announced a further $25 million annual increase in prizemoney, with total returns to owners and participants in NSW now over $336 million annually. Returns to owners and participants in NSW is the highest of any State in Australia and has increased by over $188 million (127%) since 2012.

Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club also announced a $6 million investment in upgrading the Course Proper at Warwick Farm Racecourse.

Combined with the recently announced increases in prizemoney for the Golden Slipper (increased to $5 million) and the Golden Eagle (increased to $8 million), this brings total prizemoney increases this year alone to $27 million per annum.

Minimum prizemoney increases

Details of minimum prizemoney increases are set out below:

• Picnic minimum prizemoney will increase to $5,000 per race
• Country TAB minimum prizemoney will increase to $25,000 per race
• Provincial minimum prizemoney will increase to $40,000 per race
• Metropolitan midweek minimum prizemoney will increase to $55,000 per race
• Metropolitan Saturday minimum prizemoney will increase to $150,000 per race
• Listed minimum prizemoney will increase to $160,000 per race
• Group 3 minimum prizemoney will increase to $200,000 per race
• Group 2 minimum prizemoney will increase to $250,000 per race
• Group 1 minimum prizemoney will increase to $600,000 per race

The above increases in minimum prizemoney come on top of increases that came into effect from 1 July 2021 that included increases for all tiers of Country racing.

Feature races

In addition to the above minimum prizemoney increases, Racing NSW also today announced further major investment in the Sydney Spring Carnival including:

• ‘The Big Dance’, a new $2 million 1600m race to be conducted at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day each year. This race will provide a new feature event for the Sydney Spring Carnival and provide further opportunity to engage new customers.

Eligibility for The Big Dance will be restricted to horses contesting one of 25 selected NSW Country Cups throughout the year.

A headline musical act performing after the races, combined with the new Winx Stand for General Admission racegoers, will ensure a premium raceday experience to attract new customers to racing.

• ‘The Five Diamonds’ which will be a new $2 million 1800m race for 5yo horses only, to be conducted at Rosehill Gardens on 5^th November 2022, being the same day as the Golden Gift. The distance of the Craven Plate will also be reduced from 2000m to 1800m, providing a further lead up opportunity for this new feature.
• The Spring Champion Stakes prizemoney will be increased to $2 million and the spring 3yo staying program amended such that the Spring Champion Stakes will move to Saturday, 22^nd October 2022. The prizemoney for the Dulcify Stakes will also be increased to $250,000 and prizemoney for the Gloaming Stakes increased to $500,000, with both races rescheduled to provide a staying path to the Spring Champion Stakes.
• The Stan Fox Stakes will be renamed as the Callander-Presnell in honour of Sydney racing media living legends Ken Callander and Max Presnell. The Callander-Presnell will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 22^nd October 2022 with prizemoney of $1 million over a distance of 1600m for 3yos and will replace the Bondi Stakes.
• A new $500,000 race over 1400m for 3yos will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 8 October 2022 to be named the Tapp-Craig in honour of legendary Sydney racecallers John Tapp and Ian Craig.
• Prizemoney for the Winx Stakes will increase from $500,000 to $750,000
• Prizemoney for the Silver Eagle will increase from $500,000 to $1 million

Warwick Farm upgrades

Funding from Racing NSW for $6 million of upgrades to the Warwick Farm Course Proper was also announced which will be delivered in partnership with Australian Turf Club. This investment comes on top of the recent upgrading of the A Grass and installation of a Polytrack at Warwick Farm.

The Course Proper upgrade includes surface relevelling, cambering of turns, drainage and irrigation works that will improve the competitiveness of racing and the performance of the track during wet weather. Further, being a major training centre with over 700 horses in work, the Course Proper upgrade will improve the track for ongoing use by local trainers.

Once completed, the Warwick Farm upgrades will also allow for a sequenced upgrade of Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick, with a refurbished Warwick Farm being capable of hosting additional transferred meetings going forward.

The Hon. Kevin Anderson, Minister for Racing said “Thoroughbred racing is one of the most professional industries in the state, which they proved time and time again during the pandemic when they were able to keep operating and keep contributing valuable dollars into the state’s economy”.

“I welcome Racing NSW’s commitment to expand the prizemoney and look forward to watching the sport continue to grow and prosper here in NSW. This is a very proactive step from Racing NSW and will go a long way to strengthening the industry,” Minister Anderson added.

Racing NSW Chairman, Russell Balding AO said: “These prizemoney increases are a reflection of the strength of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry and importantly will provide increased returns to owners and participants across all sectors of racing in NSW.

“The additional feature races for the Sydney Spring Carnival will complement the success that The Everest and The Golden Eagle have had already and provide even more opportunities for racing to attract new customers.

“The $6 million investment in Warwick Farm trackworks is part of Racing NSW’s overall strategy to ensure we have the proper racing infrastructure in place to underpin the sustainability of our industry,” Mr Balding AO added.

Australian Turf Club Chairman Matthew McGrath said: “The Australian Turf Club is very pleased to work with Racing NSW as we continue to manage and invest in our racing and training infrastructure including this important upgrade of the Warwick Farm course proper.

“These prizemoney increases across all Saturday and midweek races along with new features continue to make Sydney racing amongst the strongest and most innovative of anywhere in the world,” Mr McGrath added.