Aussie horse racing fanatics are preparing for the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup(credit:
doublebug)
As horse racing fanatics prepare for the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup the VRC have announced they are celebrating the anniversary with a $500,000 stakes injection to Australia's greatest horse race.
The increase in prizemoney is part of an overall $1.1 million rise in the money on offer at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival and aside from the Melbournce Cup, the VRC have topped up two Group One races on top of some lesser tier races.
The Lightning Stakes, a race won by some of Australia’s greatest sprinters, will receive an injection of $250,000 while the Mackinnon Stakes will now have a purse of $1,000,000.
"A vital component of the Victoria Racing Club’s vision and mission is the pursuit of racing excellence, and the VRC Board is committed to increasing prizemoney whenever possible,” VRC CEO Dale Monteith said.
“All these Flemington features will now be even more attractive to participants in the Australian and international racing and breeding industries. This can only lead to better field quality year by year, and so Victorian racing in general is the beneficiary.”