Fortnightly feature races worth at least $100,000 each starting from the Warrnambool carnival in May until the end of July will be among a range of initiatives aimed at rebuilding confidence in Victorian jumps racing next year.
Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said the future was bright for the sport with a 26.5 per cent lift in prizemoney to $3.2 million across 70 races – the same number as in 2011.
Hines described RVL’s investment in jumps racing as a leap of faith which would provide renewed confidence for the sport.
He said the state government’s injection of $2 million over four years to increase prizemoney, improve jockey and horse safety and boost the international profile of jumps racing was crucial.
“A supportive government is absolutely essential to the longevity of jumps racing and we have a supportive government,” Hines said.
He said that there had been significant and positive changes since the sport faced extinction three years ago and RVL would ditch the key performance indicators (KPIs) on the back the jumps racing’s improved safety record.
“Three years ago we were concerned about the performance of this sport and the damage to the image of racing in general,” Hines said.
“We had the KPIs and we met the KPIs through this period of improving the sport, but their time is done now.”
There were four jumps racing deaths this year but only one in a steeplechase race.
The Grand National Hurdle and Steeplechase races at Sandown will bring the 2012 season to a climax in July instead of August with the Steeplechase worth $250,000.
Warrnambool’s Grand Annual Steeplechase on May 3 will also be worth $250,000, an increase of $100,000 on this year.
This year’s $100,000 bonus for any horse that can win three of six designated races – the Brierly Steeplechase, Galleywood Hurdle, Australian Hurdle, Australian Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdle and Grand National Steeplechase – will be doubled to $200,000 in 2012.
Minimum prizemoney for a jumps race rises 33 per cent to $20,000 and owners will receive a $10,000 bonus should their horse post its first career jumps win.
The number of $100,000 races has increased from 11 to 15 with Mornington and Bendigo hosting two each.
AAP TURF
