William A. Nader, Executive Director, HKJC
Hong Kong will offer record prize money for the 2014/2015 season, with purses set to rise by 7% from last season. Total prize money offered will be HK$963 million, up 22% from 2009/2010, the first time the fixture list was expanded to 83 race meetings.
“This season will be the first time that racing turnover will go over the HK$100-billion mark, but more importantly, it has also been the very best season in Club history in terms of quality, with terrific performances of Hong Kong horses at the elite level at home and overseas,” said William Nader, Executive Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “With that, the Club will again increase prize money to keep that momentum going to offset rising costs for our owners.”
Purses will be increased across all classes, with an emphasis on the higher quality performers. Purses for Class 1 races will rise by 10% to HK$2.2 million (US$283,812) and Class 2 races by 7.1% to HK$1.5 million. Class 3 races will be worth HK$1.06 million, Class 4 races HK$760,000, Class 5 races HK$575,000 and Griffin (maiden) races HK$800,000.
Purses were revealed for four Hong Kong Group 1 Events
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The purses for the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the BMW Hong Kong Derby will increase by HK$2 million to HK$8 million and HK$18 million, respectively, while the Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup and the Chairman’s Sprint Prize will rise by HK$600,000 to HK$6.6 million. All International Group 2 and Hong Kong Group 2 races will be up HK$375,000 to HK$3.875 million, and all Hong Kong Group 3 races will be up 10% to HK$2.75 million. The Hong Kong Macau Trophy will be worth an additional HK$400,000 at HK$2.4 million, with the bonus for winning both legs of the interport challenge discontinued.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has also replaced its Private Purchase First Win Bonus scheme with the new High Achievement Bonus scheme. Under this scheme, Private Purchases (PPs), Private Purchase Griffins (PPGs) and International Sale Griffins (ISGs) will be eligible for a HK$750,000 bonus for winning a Class 2 race before the age of five, and HK$1 million if they win a Class 1 race before five, with top-up bonuses also on offer.
“The Club recognizes the costs associated with horse ownership and we want to give owners a fair return for their investment,” Nader added. “We also want to produce the kind of talent on the racecourse that gives our customers the high quality experience they deserve. We want to make sure the value proposition is properly balanced to ensure that Hong Kong racing continues to perform at a very high level in the years to come.”
(source: TDN)
