November 19, 2015

The Australian Turf Club will deliver further returns to Sydney racing, and continue to build the Sydney Autumn Carnival as one of the world’s highest quality racing events, with a major injection of prizemoney across feature races announced today.

An extra $2.4 million in prizemoney – funded from the ATC’s continuing strong financial performance and $310,000 from Racing NSW – will be added to a range of races at the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The increases announced today follow an extra $2.085 million which was added to the recent Sydney Spring Carnival – also fully funded by the ATC – as the Club continues on a strategic path of growth and investment in Sydney racing.

The Autumn prizemoney upgrades will be spread through feature races across all distances and age groups – from February through to the end of April – providing further incentive for trainers and owners to map out a full Autumn program in Sydney.

Among the largest increases will be a $400,000 addition to the Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup, now worth $2 million at Royal Randwick during The Championships on 9 April.

The Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas on 5 March – a race which in recent years has featured the cream of the three year old crop – is now worth $1 million, a $400,000 increase.

Major races during the Longines Golden Slipper Carnival at Rosehill Gardens to receive significant increases include the Group 1 The Galaxy, worth $700,000 (up $300,000), the Ranvet Stakes worth $700,000 (up from $500,000) and the Rosehill Guineas, now worth $600,000 (up $100,000).

These three races – to be run as part of Longines Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens on 19 March – further elevate Australia’s biggest day of Group 1 racing, including the iconic $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper.

The Group 1 All Aged Stakes – another race to have featured some of the nation’s best sprinters over the past several years – has received a $200,000 jump, to be now worth $600,000.

The prizemoney increases announced today (full list on the table below) ensures that every Group 1 race run in Sydney throughout the calendar year is now worth at least $500,000.

Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Officer Darren Pearce said the Sydney Autumn Carnival was growing in stature as one of the world’s best racing events.

“We want the very best quality of horses from around Australia and the world to come to Sydney in the Autumn, and these prizemoney increases are a further incentive,’’ Mr Pearce said.

“The ATC is proud to be able to fund more than $2 million in extra prizemoney, all from the ATC’s surpluses, off the back of a record post-merger operating profit.

“These increases mean horses can have their entire campaign in Sydney, and race right through the strongest and most competitive racing carnival in Australia.

“Last year we had horses from Japan, Hong Kong and Europe come to Sydney and with Canterbury Park’s quarantine centre fully operational we are aiming to have even more international runners.

“The Autumn prizemoney increases allow trainers with horses of all ages and across all distance ranges to start, build and finish their campaigns all in Sydney, from the start of February right through the Autumn.

“A $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup – following on from races such as the Sky High Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and The BMW – make it a real target for our very best staying horses.

“The increase to the Hobartville Stakes is an even more attractive progression to the Royal Randwick Guineas, now worth $1 million, as connections then decide whether to press on with a Rosehill Guineas and BMW Australian Derby campaign, or a George Ryder and The Star Doncaster Mile program.

“The ATC has worked hard over the last four years to improve its business, and as we enter a period of growth and investment in Sydney racing, we are proud, and fully committed, to returning more of these surpluses to the industry.

“There is more to be done in terms of prizemoney, investment in facilities and cost relief, but nearly $5 million over the course of this financial year is a wonderful start.’’

The ATC last week announced that it recorded an operating profit of $10.996 million in the 2015 financial year, allowing it to continue on a strategic path of growth and investment in Sydney racing.

The 2015 operating profit result was a further $7.212 million improvement on the previous financial year, following the $3.784 million operating profit in the 2014 financial year.