For the first time in its 136-year history, the renowned Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) in Western Australia will have a $1 million purse.
As part of the state’s increased prizemoney for all three racing codes, the stakes for the 2400m feature have doubled from the $500,000 on offer last year.
The increases amount to $5.7 million for thoroughbreds, $1.5 million for greyhounds, and $1.4 million for harness racing.
The Perth Cup boost, according to Racing and Wagering Western Australia CEO Ian Edwards, has given the New Year’s Day feature “the status it deserves”.
The additional prizemoney is another way that WA racing officials are hoping to convince interstate trainers who have horses over for the summer carnival, which includes the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) in November, to stay longer.
The increase in prizemoney is part of a sizeable $215 million cash infusion for WA racing in the upcoming fiscal year, which will also be used to fund infrastructure and investments in animal welfare.
Key funding increases for the 2023/24 season include:
- $5.7 million added to thoroughbred prizemoney and a further $1 million added to the trainers’ subsidy paid on a per-starter basis.
- $1.5 million rise in prizemoney across all greyhound meeting types and an increase to feature heats and finals stake levels.
- $1.4 million in prizemoney and breeding bonuses across all levels of races for harness racing, including the introduction a new $100,000 Westbred four-year-old race.
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