The VRC would like to see an increase to prize money for Finals Day at Flemington.
Leigh Jordon would like to see some extra money pushed towards Finals Day at Flemington to showcase the winter meeting.
As the Victoria Racing Club’s Executive General Managing – Racing, Jordon sees the meeting at Flemington on July 3 as being a jewel in the crown.
Early July at Flemington used to be the province of the Grand National Hurdle and Grand National Steeplechase meetings along with the Winter Championship Final.
With jumps racing lost from Flemington a ‘finals’ meeting was created with heats run during late autumn and early winter to gain automatic entry.
Three Listed races, all carrying $160,000 in prize money, will be run on July 3 and Jordon would like to see prize money across the board increased to make the day a feature.
The Winter Championship this year carries prize money of $160,000 while back in 2005 when Salsa took out the race, it was worth just $10,000 less.
“It’d be great to have all the races on that day worth a minimum of $200,000, or over, so that it is a real focal point of our winter racing,” Jordon said.
“I think most people through this period are aiming for the finals, but having it with a higher profile through the winter, increasing the prizemoney across the day so that the heats lead into finals that are worth a lot more, it gives horses through that period a real focus.
“Also, for the punting public, too, these races are pretty good punting races as well, so a Finals Day worth even better prize money would be a real highlight for everyone.”
Saturday’s card at Flemington carried heats for Finals Day as will the remaining Saturday meetings through the month on June in the lead-up to Flemington on July 3.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au