Boost for stakes

The savings in prize money resulting from the reduction in the number of race meetings in the Western Cape in 2013 are to be utilised to adjust prize money for all minor races in the region from next month and minor feature races from April to July.

From 1 November, prize money for all minor races in the region will rise by 8.7% across the board,
thus restoring stakes for these races to 2010 levels.
Examples include gross prize money for a
– Maiden Plate increasing from R53,360 to R58,000 and
– A division races (MR 104 and FM 100 Handicaps) from R88,320 to R96,000.

Stakes for minor feature races in the Western Cape off season (April to July) will also be adjusted.
Prize money for all 16 feature races in that timeframe will increase by 9%, effectively restoring them to the same levels prior to being reduced by Gold Circle in 2011.

The Cape Winter Challenge will be the main beneficiary of the adjustment
– gross stakes of all three legs of the series going from R184,000 to R200,000.

Phumelela Horseracing Executive Patrick Davis said the redistribution of surplus money in the Western Cape stakes pot would effectively restore prize money in the province to the same levels before being cut by Gold Circle in the 2010-11 season.

“Tribute must be paid to Vidrik Thurling and Robert Bloomberg, who have worked tirelessly to accomplish this redistribution of prize money,” said Davis.

In addition, two Western Cape race meetings previously axed for 2013 have been restored to the programme as part of the redistribution of prize money.
These are a fixture on the
Kenilworth summer course on Saturday 6 April
Kenilworth winter course on Saturday 15 June.
On both days there is racing scheduled at Turffontein as well.
The breakdown of the prize-money increases is below:

Feature Race stakes increase

Minor Race stakes increase