A total of $770,000 in prize money and bonuses will be on offer for Bendigo’s inaugural premier Saturday meeting on March 17 next year.
Racing Victoria (RV), Country Racing Victoria and the Bendigo Jockey Club announced on Thursday that the meeting would feature nine races.
The $125,000 Golden Mile (1600m) has been moved from the spring and more than doubles in prize money, while the inaugural Bendigo Guineas (1400m) for three-year-olds will be worth $90,000 plus $80,000 in bonuses.
Thoroughbred sales company Inglis is offering a $50,000 bonus if the Guineas winner is a graduate of their sales, while the first three placegetters will share in $30,000 worth of Super VOBIS bonuses if qualified.
The Golden Mile race day, which will replace the Melbourne metropolitan meeting, will also include the $90,000 Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m) for fillies and mares and the $75,000 Bendigo Gold 0-82 Stayers Final (2400m) for which heats will be held across the state.
RV chief executive Rob Hines said the meeting had been guaranteed a place within the Melbourne Festival of Racing for at least the next three years.
AAP TURF
