NSW prizemoney will return to pre-COVID-19 levels from July 1. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Prize money for NSW thoroughbred races will be restored to pre-COVID-19 levels from next month with the state’s feature spring race dates also locked in.
Racing NSW has confirmed prize money levels for spring feature races will be maintained with this year’s The Everest to be run for $15 million while the Golden Eagle remains at $7.5 million in its second year.
Prize money levels for NSW races across the board were reduced in April until the end of the financial year because of the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
The stakes for races of $100,000 or more were reduced by 20 per cent while NSW races between $25,000 and $100,000 were reduced by 10 per cent.
The minimum prize money for NSW country TAB meetings was reduced from $22,000 to $20,000.
Saturday metropolitan races will be restored to $125,000 from $100,000)with metropolitan midweeks going back to $50,000 from $45,000.
Highway races in town will be back up to $75,000 while provincial and country races prize money levels will be restored.
The spring carnival dates in NSW have also been confirmed with The Everest to be held on October 17 at Randwick while the Golden Eagle is two weeks later.
“The confirmation of racing dates enables industry participants to move forward with certainty,” Racing NSW chairman Russell Balding said.
“Trainers and owners can now properly plan the racing preparations for their horses.”