At its recent committee meeting the Manawatu HRC decided to increase stakes for the upcoming two-day meeting on December 13 and 15.
Club President, Dan Lynch, explains the reasoning behind the increases. “We have run fewer races than budgeted this season and with relatively small fields we have retained a good amount of budgeted stake money. Given that, the committee resolved to add that money on to stakes for the December meeting, as a Christmas bonus to owners and trainers. Also, the way is clear for us to hopefully attract better numbers to this meeting, with a Premier meeting in Auckland the only competition for us that week.
“We decided that the best way to make an impact with the stakes increase was to add it to the winning stakes for each race. Winners will get an additional $500 on Day One of the meeting and essentially $1,000 extra on Day 2.”
The club is looking bigger picture too with a big cross-code promotion in March set to highlight the club’s season. ”We need ensure we stay on people’s radar because in March we have a great opportunity to showcase Central Districts harness racing and energize the local industry. We have some big plans in development for that meeting and we’re hoping that things such as stakes increases where we can will drive greater interest to the region.”
The Manawatu HRC December meeting will run as a twilight on 13 December and a 5.30pm start on Thursday the 15th. Both racedays are scheduled for nine races.
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