Greyhound racing in WA will benefit substantially from the recently announced distribution increases of more than $950,000 in 2007/08.
The news is extremely welcome and comes on the back of rises over the past few years which has seen stakes grow from just under $5m in 2004/05 to $8.4m next financial year.
Effective 1 August 2007, the amount available for total base stakes is $7.2m (up 13.2%) and feature race stakes will be $1.2m (up 4.6%). The result is a lift in City stakes of approximately 18%, whilst Provincial and Country Class races will
increase by about 6%.
City Class Graded Races (excluding Maidens) will see increases of at least $400 to the winner effective 1 August 2007. Increments of $250 to the winner will be maintained between each grade with winners of Grade 5 races to receive $2,900 through to Grade 1/Free To All winners at $3,900.
All Provincial Class races will see increases, with Grade 5 winners to receive $1,050 in 2006/07 through to Free To All winners at $1,350.
Similarly all Country Class races will receive small increases with the range of $500 to $700 paid for Grade 5 through to Free To All winners.
Most feature events will also see stake increases in 2007/08. The SKY Channel Perth Cup Final will move to $125,000 to the winner (with the complete series worth a total of $325,000), and WA’s major staying event - the SKY Channel Galaxy - will become the richest distance event in Australia with $70,000 to the winner. All Group 3 events will now pay $22,500 to the winner, and the Northam Anniversary Cup has received a 25% boost to $4,000.
WA’s entirely non-contributory WESTCHA$E Scheme is anticipated to pay out $413,000 to Maiden winners (all Classes) and all City Class Graded Race winners in 2007/08, an increase of $60,000 or 17%.
Twenty-seven extra meetings are scheduled in 2007/08 enabling a Country Class meeting to be run at Mandurah (Thursday) all year round. This brings the total number of race meetings to 291.
Greyhounds WA is also very pleased with the distribution Model 2007/08 which reconfigures the basis upon which the Club receives monies from RWWA.
There are now many excellent rewards available to Greyhounds WA if we can attract increased wagering turnover on our product and this incentive-based system is warmly welcomed.
Stakemoney Snapshot
City Class
Minimum $400 to the winner increases to all
grades, excluding Maidens $250 to the winner increments between grades (5 thru 1)
Increase in 4th place stakes to $175
Provincial Class
$50 increases to the winner of all grades
$75 to the winner increments between grades
Increase in 4th place stakes at $75
Country Class
Increases of between $25 and $45 to the winner
of all grades
$50 to the winner increments between Grades 5
and Grades 1
Increase in 4th place stakes at $40
Northam Anniversary Cup lifted to $4,000 to the winner
Feature Stakes
Perth Cup to $125,000
Galaxy to $75,000
Sprint Challenge, Stayers Challenge, Young Stars Classic, Canning Show Cup, “The Schweppes†to $22,500 to the winner
Sprint and Stayers Preludes, Summer Chase to $7,000
David Simonette
13 April 2007
its all a bit painful really
