Racing NSW today announced major prizemoney increases to country racing carnivals right across NSW as a further boost to country racing which will commence from 1 August 2019.
With this announcement today, total annual prizemoney to be paid for country racing in NSW will now be more than $81 million which is an increase of $48 million or 145% since 2012. Country racing has received the largest increase of any sector during this time.
There will now be eight feature Country Cup races with prizemoney of $200,000 at the following racecourses: Port Macquarie, Goulburn, Albury, Wellington, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Scone and Grafton.
In addition, prizemoney for Grafton’s Ramornie Handicap, the Wagga Wagga Town Plate and Scone’s Dark Jewel Quality will also be increased to $200,000.
Also, at each feature country meeting there will now also be a $50,000 ‘Country Magic’ race which is restricted to country-trained horses only. These ‘Country Magic’ races will ensure country participants have an extra opportunity to compete at these feature meetings.
These latest announcements follow on from recent increases to minimum prizemoney levels to $22,000 per race and 40 Country Showcase meetings per annum with each race being at least $30,000 and the introduction of races restricted to country-trained horses only such as:
- $1.3 million The Kosciuszko
- $500,000 Country Championships Final
- 7 x $150,000 Country Championships qualifiers throughout NSW for total $1,050,000
- $75,000 weekly Highway races
- $40,000 maidens for country-trained horses only
Proven Thoroughbreds is in an excellent position to capitalise on these latest prizemoney increases with horses trained by John Bateman at Goulburn – one of the state’s premier country racing circuits. John has extensive knowledge of training having worked under the late Guy Walter for several years before establishing his own stable in 2014. Since then he has won a Country Championships Qualifier and multiple Highway races.
Country Carnival Prizemoney Increases
| Carnival/Race Meeting | Month | Race | Existing Prizemoney | New Prizemoney | Increase |
| Coffs Harbour Cup | August | Coffs Harbour Cup | $80,000 | $150,000 | $70,000 |
| Daniel Baker Sprint | $40,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Ken Howard Cup | $35,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Taree Cup | August | Taree Cup | $80,000 | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Dubbo Gold Cup | September | Dubbo Gold Cup | $60,000 | $100,000 | $40,000 |
| Flying Hcp | $40,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Other Support Race | $30,000 | $40,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Lismore Cup | September | Lismore Cup | $60,000 | $75,000 | $15,000 |
| Rousillon Hcp | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Untamed Hcp | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Port Macquarie Cup | October | Port Macquarie Cup | $150,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 |
| Port Macquarie Sprint | $50,000 | $60,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Open Hcp | $40,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Coonamble & Coonabarabran Cups | October | Coonamble Cup | $45,000 | $75,000 | $30,000 |
| Coonabarabran Cup | $45,000 | $75,000 | $30,000 | ||
| Baradine Cup (Coonamble) | $27,000 | $35,000 | $8,000 | ||
| Crystal Sprint (Coonamble) | $27,000 | $35,000 | $8,000 | ||
| Coonabarabran Sprint | $27,000 | $40,000 | $13,000 | ||
| All Races $25k | $198,000 | $225,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Country Magic (one each) | $44,000 | $100,000 | $56,000 | ||
| Goulburn Cup | November | Goulburn Cup | $150,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 |
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Gundagai Snake Gully Cup Carnival | November | Snake Gully Cup | $70,000 | $100,000 | $30,000 |
| Snake Gully Flying | $35,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | ||
| Other Support Races (4) | $128,000 | $140,000 | $12,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Mudgee Cup | December | Mudgee Cup | $50,000 | $75,000 | $25,000 |
| Mudgee Sprint | $35,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Moruya Cup | January | Moruya Cup | $50,000 | $75,000 | $25,000 |
| Town Plate | $35,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | ||
| Other Support Races | $30,000 | $40,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Bega Cup Carnival | February | Bega Cup | $50,000 | $75,000 | $25,000 |
| Bega Sprint | $40,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Sapphire Coast Cup | $35,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Albury Gold Cup | March | Albury Gold Cup | $180,000 | $200,000 | $20,000 |
| Flat Knacker | $50,000 | $75,000 | $25,000 | ||
| City Hcp | $50,000 | $75,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Albury Mile | $40,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Muswellbrook Cup | March | Muswellbrook Cup | $100,000 | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| Skellatar Sprint | $50,000 | $60,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Wayne Harris | $40,000 | $60,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Wellington Boot | April | Wellington Boot | $150,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 |
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Orange Cup | April | Orange Gold Cup | $65,000 | $75,000 | $10,000 |
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Tamworth Cup | April | Tamworth Cup | $150,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 |
| Mornington Hcp | $40,000 | $50,000 | $10,000 | ||
| Jardel Cup | $35,000 | $50,000 | $15,000 | ||
| Clift Memorial | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Murrumbidgee Turf Club | May | Wagga Wagga Gold Cup | $170,000 | $200,000 | $30,000 |
| Wagga Wagga Town Plate | $150,000 | $200,000 | $50,000 | ||
| Queen of the South | $40,000 | $75,000 | $35,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Scone Carnival | May | Scone Cup | $180,000 | $200,000 | $20,000 |
| Dark Jewel Quality | $180,000 | $200,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $50,000 | $50,000 | $0 | ||
| Grafton Cup & Ramornie | July | Grafton Cup, LR | $160,000 | $200,000 | $40,000 |
| Ramornie Hcp, LR | $160,000 | $200,000 | $40,000 | ||
| Sir James Kirby | $50,000 | $75,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Country Magic | $30,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 |