Big Purse Bonanza for Railway Stakes
Everyone in horse racing knows that the biggest names in the industry can usually be found at the racing events that carry the biggest purses. Not only does purse money attract the local talent but it also lures international competitors to these racing meetings. In an effort to boost horse racing in Australia, especially the Festival of Perth Racing, the Western Australian Government together with Perth Racing will be boosting the purse of the Carlton Draught Railway Stakes to gain the attention of the international horse racing community and increase their support.
At present the Carlton Draught Railway Stakes is a Grade 1 racing event for racehorses three years old and over. Run at Ascot over a distance of 1 600 meters, the event carries a purse of $1 000 000, with $622 500 going to the winner, second place receiving $200 000, $90 000 for third place and the rest being divided accordingly until eighth position. In the new bid to increase the purse of this event, it is hoped that by 2011 the Carlton Draught Railway Stakes will have $5 million to offer.
The premier of Western Australia, Alan Carpenter, recently announced the assistance they will be giving Perth Racing by not only adding $2 million to the purse for next year, but an additional $400 000 will be given to Perth Racing to aid them in promoting the Carlton Draught Railway Stakes. The race will be the main event of the Festival of Perth Racing and with the increase of the purse money, with the Melbourne Cup having a purse of $5.5 million, it will most certainly elevate the festival to one of the top racing events in Australia. Two of the other major racing meetings in the country are the $3.14 million Cox Plate and the $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
By 2011, and additional $2 million will be added to the Carlton Draught Railway Stakes purse, allowing it to rival the biggest horse racing events in Australia. Many trainers feel that the increase in prize money will be an incentive to owners and horsemen to target the event and include it in their racing schedules. The Carlton Draught Railway Stakes is set to become the calendar event of Australian racing, and bring deserved attention to Perth Racing.
