By HRV Media
The Association of Victorian Country Harness Racing Clubs (AVCHRC) has welcomed Harness Racing Victoria’s (HRV) stakes increase announcement.
On Monday HRV revealed stakemoney for season 2015-16 would exceed $40 million for the first time ever after a 5% increase on the 2014-15 season, meaning harness racing stakemoney in Victoria has climbed by 20% over three years.
“It’s fantastic to see our industry in a position to offer stakes increases,” said AVCHRC President Paul James.
“We acknowledge the challenge of balancing stakes increases to reward both everyday participation and the elite level of our sport to help grow and attract new people.
“The increases announced by HRV provide for both and for that we congratulate HRV.
“The increases to Country Cup funding, co-funded by clubs and HRV, reflects the importance and strength of our club network to the Victorian industry and will assist showcasing the best horses and participants throughout Regional Victoria.”
President of the Victorian Harness Racing Trainers and Drivers Association (VTDA) Lance Justice also welcomed the stakemoney increases.
“We commend HRV for increasing distribution of stakemoney in 2015/16 to in excess of 40 million,” Justice said.
“The VTDA in its budget submission earlier this year requested any increases to be directed to increasing basic levels to ensure the majority of the industry benefited from the extremely successful 2014/15 financial year result.
“It is pleasing to see our request to increase graduation races to the new threshold level was ratified and we also welcome the changes to the Melton metropolitan meeting stake levels.”
HRV CEO John Anderson said the stakes increases would benefit all levels of the industry.
“After extensive consultation with our industry consultative groups we elected to try and spread the stakes increases widely from the bottom end right through to the top,” Anderson said.
“From the bottom end of the scale we’ve brought graduation races up to $3500, which is the maximum amount allowed under the national guidelines for a graduation race before the winner has to take a country penalty. With 42 graduation race meetings a year this equates to an increase of about $200,000 a year.
“Increasing the Vicbred first win bonus for four-year-olds from $5000 to $7000 equates to an annual increase of about $430,000, which is obviously significant.
“Country fillies and mares races of all grades also take on an extra $1000 in stakes, which is great news for the Victorian breeding industry. There is always room for more to be done to stimulate fillies and mares’ racing opportunities.
“Given that there are about 250 of these races scheduled each year this equates to an additional quarter of a million dollars.”
Stakes Increases by Percentage
Bottom end (graduation, country F&M, 6th to last, Vicbred 1st Bonus) – 59%
Mid-level (Metro Front M1/TM1+, Country Penalty TP, Country Cups) – 23%
Top end (Hunter Cup, 4&5YO Championship, 4YO Bonanza, Maori Mile) – 18%
CODY WINNELL
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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