Following on from the recent increases by Racing NSW for black-type races, Gosford Race Club has announced the following increases in its feature races:
Belle of the Turf Race Day – Thursday 28 December 2024
Belle of the Turf – Group 3 – $250,000 to $300,000
Gosford Guineas – Listed $160,000 to $200,000
The Coast Race Day – Saturday 11 May 2024
Gosford Gold Cup $250,000 to $300,000
Takeover Target $200,000 to $250,000
The Thunder Thousand $175,000 to $200,000
The ten-race card held in May will now boast prizemoney of just over $2.1 million.
“This level of prizemoney is unprecedented for Gosford and can only be achieved via the support of Racing NSW,” Gosford Race Club CEO, Daniel Lacey stated.
“My Board has aligned with the strategic direction to that of Racing NSW via increases in prizemoney levels which is to the benefit of racing participants and owners. The Coast Race Day, which is now in its fourth year, goes from strength to strength and brings economic benefit not just to the Club but to the Central Coast region”.
Lacey told Club Management that the increase in prizemoney would raise the profile of the club, which would bring multiple benefits to the club as well as local businesses in its vicinity
“An increase in Prizemoney raises the profile of our races, which in turn leads to an increase in horse owner visitation and racegoers alike. This not only means that we employ a higher number of casual staff for these days, it also has a knock-on effect on other businesses as a lot of the owners do not reside on the Central Coast so they choose to make watching their horse race into a mini break and spend the night or weekend on the Coast.”
The news comes just days after Geelong Racing Club, with the backing of Racing Victoria, announced its inaugural Super Saturday on the Coast event slated for January, with $1.5m in prizemoney. The event will be the club’s highest paying race day, and will help raise the profile of the club and other local businesses in the Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coat communities among racing fans and holidaymakers alike.