SYDNEY LOOKS TO BOOST SPRING FURTHER

Horse racing in NSW received a significant and in some eyes controversial facelift in 2017 when it introduced the $14m Everest to its Spring Racing Carnival that competed on Caulfield Cup Day.

The injection of additional prize money and later the introduction of races like the Golden Eagle, The Hunter and The Gong all designed to extend the Spring into late November.

Even through the pandemic Russell Balding has said the continuing success and acceptance of the redeveloped Sydney Carnival by the industry has prompted Racing NSW to consider further changes.

"We are going to strengthen our spring carnival even further," Balding said.

"All the key indicators, field sizes, quality of fields, TV audiences through Channel 7, Sky Racing and Sky Thoroughbred Central, and betting turnover shows the spring was an outstanding success."

"So, we want to look at introducing more support races and prize money boosts — it’s all in the mix."

A starting point for the changes seems to be looking to increase prize money for races such as the Epsom or Winx stakes which currently have the same or less money than the newly formed Listed races like The Hunter or Gong.

"We have to look at a number of these traditional races to make sure their relativity is maintained," Balding said.

"At the end of the day I want to make sure those traditional races get the quality fields they deserve."

"Sydney’s spring carnival is now so good but we want to make it even better."

Given the current Global climate racing has done well to succeed in the conditions and the further investment can only help bolster fields and provide exciting fields like this years Hunter.

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