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By Mark Brassel

Parkes Jockey Club will stage a super-rich Maiden race on their Cup Day that could be worth over $116,000 to winning connections.

To put that into perspective, first prizemoney for the Maiden is $16,000 more than finishing third in Saturday’s $1 million Evergreen Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick!

The Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1000m) at Parkes on Sunday 18 May is an Inglis Xtra Bonus Series race, incentivised with a $100,000 bonus to the winner.

Parkes Jockey Club will stage a rich Maiden race on their Cup Day. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Winning connections of designated Maidens receive the $100K bonus should the horse be an Inglis graduate from 2023 and beyond and paid up for the Inglis Race Series.

Inglis Bloodstock’s CEO, Sebastian Hutch was keen to see the bonuses being won by as many sets of connections as possible.

“Through the Inglis Race Series, we wanted to create an opportunity for more people to win more prizemoney more often and the Xtra Bonus Series allows for exactly that,” Hutch said.

“The hardest race for a horse to win is their Maiden, so we wanted to give every buyer and owner of an Inglis graduate the opportunity to win extraordinary prizemoney at the entry level of racing.

“There is effectively one Maiden a week on average, at different venues – around half of which were in NSW – over different distances ranging from 900m to 2000m giving many of our clients regular chances to win significant money.”

An additional $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus Series Maiden has also been programmed for Gosford on Thursday 29 May.

Meanwhile, Saturday is the annual Tomingley picnic races located 54km south-west of Dubbo.

“Our meeting is a vibrant celebration of community spirit and country racing, attracting both local and visiting participants,” said Charna Edmunds, Secretary of Tomingley Picnic Race Club.

“Beyond the thrilling races we have live entertainment, food stalls, a bar and even a $4000 prize pool for the Fashions on the Field competition.

“It’s a day filled with excitement for all ages, with activities like a jumping castle and a bucking bull.

“Our major sponsor is the Tomingley Gold Operations-Alkane Resources and year after year their sponsorship provides critical funding that enables the event to continue and flourish.

“Their contributions extend beyond financial support, as they actively engage with the local community to ensure the races remain a highlight on the regional calendar.”

On Friday, Sapphire Coast Turf Club holds its Tradies Raceday: “We have an eight-race TAB meeting with bookmakers, bars, food vans and a kiosk operating on the day,” said SCTC’s Sponsorship & Marketing Manager, Jen Svenoy.

“Patrons can enter the Human Wheelbarrow race for a chance to win great Mitre 10 prizes and we’ll have free buses to and from the track with times and locations on our website.

“Tradies Raceday is proudly sponsored by Mitre 10, McKills Tree Services, Buildcert, Clark Equipment, Fleet Painting and Bristol Paints Pambula.”

And next Sunday is Gundagai Cup Day with an eight-race TAB program. The highlight is the Gundagai Cup (1800m) carrying $36,000 in prizemoney with a total of $231,000 on offer for the race card.

Gates open at 11:30am with entry just $10 for adults and kids allowed in free with a bar, canteen, bookmakers and a TAB.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Nowra, Ballina
Tuesday: Tamworth
Friday: Sapphire Coast, Grafton
Saturday: Taree, Coonabarabran, Hillston (non-TAB), Tomingley picnics (non-TAB)
Sunday: Gundagai, Armidale