THOROUGHBRED racing in Bathurst is set to have its biggest payday in the history of the sport in the region.
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This follows yesterday’s announcement that $100,000 would be made available to the Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing to host the inaugural Central District Region Country Championships Final on March 16.
First and second placegetters in the race will then qualify for a chance to run in the $300,000 final, which will be held at Royal Randwick on the first day of The Champion-ships in April 2015.
Runners coming in third and fourth will be reserves for the rich final.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said yesterday the event would be a key attraction for the local region, and is encouraging the community to support the race.
“The $100,000 Bathurst race is for horses trained in the region,” he said. “This is a great initiative by Racing NSW in partnership with the NSW Government, and provides an incredible opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of our regionally trained horses to a wider audience in Sydney.
“I’m thrilled the Bathurst Turf Club has been selected by Racing NSW as one of seven tracks to host a regional qualifying race, and I look forward to the community getting behind this exciting initiative and enjoying the race.”
In addition to the Bathurst event, regional qualifying races will also be held at Wagga, Goulburn, Port Macq- uarie, Dubbo, Tamworth and Grafton.
Mr Toole said the opportunity to race at Royal Randwick in the final would be one most owners and trainers in the region would never dream of having.
“A win in the Bathurst final or even the $300,000 final in Sydney could be life-changing for those concerned,” he said.
Ali Webster from Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing said yesterday they are elated with the announcement.
“Prizemoney of that stature means this race meeting will be high profile and well promoted,” she said. “It also means there’s potential to have a bumper crowd on hand, as well as giving us another major event on the club’s calendar along with the Soldier’s Saddle.”
Bathurst track manager Adrian Miller said he believes a $100,000 prize pool has never been offered locally.
“Everyone would love to be able to take it home, so there will be plenty of interest in getting a horse into the field for the event,” he said.
Minister for Racing Troy Grant said country racing is a vital part of the racing industry.