STAKES INCREASE. 2009.

Stakes get a 15% boost next year

THERE will be a 15% increase in prize money available for races on the Highveld and in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape in 2009.

This was announced at the Racing Association annual general meeting earlier this week.

The increased stakes pot will be spread across the almost 2 100 races to be run in the Phumelela-administered racing regions next year.

Last year, when a stakes increase was announced for the Highveld, the emphasis was placed on feature race stakes, and in particular on Grade 1 races. At the time, the RA promised that the focus would be on minor races in 2009 – a promise that has been kept.

Races for maidens and juveniles have been singled out for special attention.

In addition to a 14% increase in stakes for these races, a number of them will carry an additional R20 000 bonus prize for owners who are members of the RA.

A similar bonus of R15 000 will apply in the Eastern Cape, while in Northern Cape it will be R10 000.

This bonus payment is subject to certain conditions. One of these is that qualifying owners will have to have been RA members for at least three months.

Also, if any members of an ownership syndicate or partnership are not RA members, the bonus will be halved. If none of the owners are RA members, no bonus will be paid.

More than 1 200 races will be programmed for the increased number of 140 race meetings scheduled for the Highveld.

The following stakes will apply to minor races on the Highveld in 2009:

HANDICAPS
MR104 / FM100 – R110 000
MR96 / FM92 – R100 000
MR88 / FM84 – R89 000
MR80 / FM76 – R78 000
MR72 / FM68 – R64 000
Divided – R100 000
Divided – R77 000

PLATES
Pinnacle – R110 000
Advance – R100 000
Allowance – R94 000
Progress – R89 000
Graduation – R82 000
Novice – R 80 000
Maiden – R80 000
Juvenile – R85 000
Maiden Juvenile – R80 000

Three-year-olds are to be the main thrust of the feature race programme for 2009, as evidenced by the following:

TRIPLE CROWN
SA Classic – R2-million
SA Derby – R1.5-million
Gauteng Guineas – R1-million
[Outright bonus – R2-million; consolation bonus – R500 000]

TRIPLE TIARA
SA Fillies Classic – R1-million
SA Oaks – R750 000
Gauteng Fillies Guineas – R500 000
[Outright bonus – R1-million; consolation bonus – R250 000]

Apart from the introduction of three new feature races on the Vaal Sand Track in the February to May period, the feature race programme and the stakes of the other races remain much the same as they were in 2008.

Nonetheless, the total feature race stakes on the Highveld are an impressive R29-million for the year.

About 550 races will be run at 68 race meetings in the Eastern Cape. There will be a 12% increment in minor race prize money and a 3% increase in feature race stakes – meaning the total stakes pot in the coastal region will grow by 10%.

With the accent also on maiden and juvenile races – enhanced by 16% increases and bonuses in some races if the winner is RA member-owned, the distribution of prize money will be:

HANDICAPS
MR104 / FM100 – R80 000 (73% of Highveld stake)
MR94 / FM90 – R70 000 (70%)
MR86 / FM82 – R60 000 (67%)
MR78 / FM74 – R55 000 (71%)
MR70 / FM66 – R50 000 (78%)
Divided – R71 000 (71%)
Divided – R53 000 (69%)

PLATES
Pinnacle – R80 000 (73%)
Allowance – R65 000 (69%)
Progress – R60 000 (67%)
Graduation – R55 000 (67%)
Novice – R52 000 (65%)
Maiden – R50 000 (63%)
Juvenile – R52 000 (61%)
Maiden juvenile – R50 000 (63%)

In Northern Cape, Flamingo Park now offers eight feature races and 316 “bread and butter” races – headed by the Racing Association Mile with an enhanced stake of R200 000 and the Racing Association Sprint of R135 000.

Prize money will average 51% of an average Highveld minor race. Again, weighting of the increases will be towards maidens and juveniles.

Northern Cape stakes will be:

Pinnacle plate – R59 000 (54% of Highveld stake)
MR92 / FM88 – R54 000 (54%)
MR84 / FM80 – R49 000 (55%)
MR78 / FM74 – R43 000 (55%)
MR72 / FM68 – R39 000 (61%)
MR66 / FM62 – R36 000
Maiden plate – R40 000 (50%)
Juvenile plate – R43 000 (51%)
Maiden juvenile – R40 000 (50%)

The RA said that, in association with Phumelela Gaming and Leisure and the Racing Trust, and governed by the stakes agreement, it aimed to deliver the maximum flow of funds into stakes in the three Phumelela racing regions.

Scotia

Any indication on which of the 'number of races' will qualify for the additional bonusses fro RA members? Will the bonus only apply to 'some' of the juvenile and maiden races?

RA members are in line for R20 000 extra prize for maiden winners

A NUMBER of maiden races on the Highveld will carry a special R20 000 prize money bonus in 2009 – payable to winning owners who are members of the Racing Association.

The bonus applies to maiden races programmed on feature race days.

Similar bonuses of R15 000 and R10 000 will apply in Eastern Cape and Northern Cape respectively.

This is on top of the significant stakes increases for all maiden races announced at the recent RA annual general meeting.

On the Highveld, the increase for maidens is 14%. Every maiden will be worth a total of R80 000 from January – with those allocated the bonus rising to R100 000.

Phumelela racing executive Patrick Davis said 20 maiden races on the Highveld had been “broadly identified” for the bonus.

Some feature days may have no maidens carded – such as Classic Day and Champions Day – and obviously no bonus will apply. But at most feature meetings one or two races will worth the extra R20 000. The Emerald Cup festival at the Vaal and the Randjesfontein family day are among those earmarked – as are meetings featuring the Sea Cottage Handicap, the Tony Ruffel Stakes, the Charity Mile, the Ipi Tombe Challenge Stakes, and others.

A bonus of R15 000 will apply to eight maidens on feature days in the Eastern Cape in May and October. In Northern Cape the extra amount is R10 000, on at least two races.

The bonus payment is subject to certain conditions – the key one being that any qualifying owners have to have been RA members for at least three months.

Also, if any members of an ownership syndicate or partnership are not RA members, but at least one is, the bonus will be halved. If not one owner in the winning partnership is an RA member in good standing no bonus will be paid.

Last year, when a stakes increase was announced for the Phumelela regions, the emphasis was placed on feature race stakes, and in particular on Grade 1 races. At the time, the RA promised to focus on minor races in 2009.

The increase in the 2009 stakes pot for Phumelela racing regions averages 15% and will be spread across the almost 2 100 races to be run in 2009.

Agree very nice to have seen that..also approx 300 extra races in Gauteng 2009 and the RA Bonus for members Excellent!

Great news about the stakes increase,will definetelly be appreciated by all,good reason to keep the R A badges for another season,and now for the lights?