Tasracing’s new tiered stakes distribution scheme will be introduced at the Tasmanian Racing Club’s meeting at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on Sunday 1 December 2013.
Aimed at races Class 2 and above, the new structure will deliver significant increases in prize money of between 12 per cent and 28 per cent across each race.
Tasracing CEO Dr Eliot Forbes said the stakes distribution would provide greater reward and incentive for better performed horses to progress through their classes towards higher quality races.
The tiered stakes structure as follows was delivered following consultation with stakeholder and participant representative bodies, through the Thoroughbred Advisory Network.
RACE TYPE
Stakes as of 1 Dec 2013
% Increase
Open Handicap
$17,500
13 %
Benchmark 78
$16,000
28 %
Feature Race Days
$15,000
20 %
Class 4
$15,000
20 %
2yo & 3yo Handicap
$15,000
20 %
Class 2
$14,000
12 %
Benchmark 68
$14,000
12 %
Dr Forbes said its introduction had been timed to complement the Betfair Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival (TSRC), which officially begins on Sunday 19 January, and assist in the attraction of participants to the TSRC feature race days.
He said the increased returns associated with the introduction of the tiered stakes system followed an increase in the number of runners in October and November 2013 (885 runners compared to 829 over the same period in 2012).
“This has resulted in an increase in average field size from 9.9 runners to 10.4 runners over the early months of the night racing season and continues to underline the optimistic outlook for the thoroughbred industry within Tasmania,” Dr Forbes said.
