Racing Victoria has announced further enhancements to the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
All Group 1 races run during the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival will carry at least $1 million.
Racing Victoria announced on Monday an extra $3 million in prize money for races across the spring.
And there will be a $1 million bonus on offer for the winner of the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day if they had won one of 12 races for fillies and mares during the year.
Five Group 1 races had prize money raised by $250,000 to bring them up to the minimum $1 million.
Those races are: the Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 28, the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 11, the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 18, the Underwood Stakes (1800m) on September 26 and the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 2.
The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 2 has been boosted from $500,000 to $750,000 while also offering a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on October 23 has had an increase to $1 million, up from $500,000.
The prize money increases now see in excess of $110 million during the Spring Racing Carnival with the increases coming on top of the $16 million injection announced in June for the 2021-22 racing season.
RV Chairman Brian Kruger said the prize money enhancements unashamedly seek to ensure that the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival remains a destination event.
“We are strong believers in the importance of the Australian Racing Pattern to the long-term future of Australian racing and its many stakeholders,” Kruger said.
“Our goal is to excite racing fans and punters by compiling the best fields possible and to reward those owners and trainers who support the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival and our iconic Group 1 races.
“Not only does the Group 1 Empire Rose offer the placegetters coveted black type for their future breeding careers, but it now also offers a winner’s cheque of $1.6 million for any horse that has claimed one of 12 designated races on their way to Flemington.”
