The Otago Daily Times Southern Mile final in March will carry a remarkable $200,000 stake, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announced as part of a wide-ranging industry boost yesterday.
The mile series, for horses in the intermediate grade, will enter its third year and again have 10 heats — conducted by six clubs at four South Island tracks — before the final at Wingatui.
A $60,000 stake for the inaugural final was bumped to $100,000 last year and will be doubled as a result of the TAB’s partnership with international betting agency Entain.
It is, in rugby terms, a bit like club rugby players getting a chance to have a crack at some All Black money.
"It’s just sensational news," Otago Racing Club chairman Murray Acklin said.
"We haven’t had a stake of that magnitude ever. In fact, it’s only a couple of years ago that we had our first $100,000 race."
It would make the ODT Southern Mile comfortably the wealthiest race in the South Island outside of the major black-type (prestige) races, he said.
Another big announcement yesterday was the introduction of a new $350,000 South Island race to be run at Riccarton in April.
The first three horses home in the ODT Southern Mile final will be exempt from the ballot for that race.
Mr Acklin said the mile series had struck a chord with both punters and the racing community, and it received effective publicity thanks to the partnership with the newspaper.
"I think it is also about that catering for horses that have just come out of that maiden class.
"The big carrot at the end is the final, and with that sort of stake, it’s going to encourage people to get into ownership, and it’s a wonderful incentive for trainers and riders.
"Something of this magnitude will attract a lot of attention and can only be good for the industry."
The Southern Mile series had attracted field sizes 40% above the national average.
Other feature days at Wingatui will also get boosted stakes, including big jumps for maiden ($15,000 to $25,000) and rating 65 ($30,000 to $40,000) races.
Otago Racing Club stakes will exceed $3million next season with $2.55million returning to owners, $300,000 to trainers and $150,000 to jockeys above their riding fees.
