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Still poor cousins at Pakenham
Paddy Higgs
23Jul08
RACING Victoria's new prize- money plan has been slammed by Pakenham Racing Club and Country Racing Victoria.
The $23.6 million plan includes a two-phased increase in prizemoney for metropolitan and country race meets, but critics say the non-metro share threatens country racing's future.
Under the two-year plan, minimum prizemoney for country meets will rise from $9000 to $12,000, with Thursday and Sunday pools increasing from $12,000 to $15,000 a race. Metropolitan winnings will hit $30,000 for midweek or night races, and Saturday/feature night meets will reach $70,000.
Racing Victoria chief executive Bernard Saundry said the money allocated was in response to representations made by Country Racing Victoria (CRV) and industry stakeholders.
Pakenham and the CRV say more money is needed if country racing is to bridge the gap to metropolitan prize purses a long-time sore point with owners and trainers.
"While we are happy to see minimum prizemoney in the country finally increasing, the amount of the increase from February 2009 is most disappointing," CRV chief executive officer Scott Whiteman said. "Time and again we have been told the focus will be on increasing prizemoney in the country.
"Instead, we see a further decline in the variance between metropolitan and country minimums."
Pakenham racing manager Michael Hodge highlighted the impact present economic trends were having on country trainers and owners. "The way petrol and feed prices are going, the viability argument is a strong one for us," he said.
