There’s even more reason for trainers in regional areas to target next year’s Country Championships, with prize money for the final increased to $500,000.
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This year’s event, won by Matthew Dunn’s Free Standing in a stunning upset while Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn scored a third-placed finish with Not For Export, was worth $400,000.
The 2018 Country Championships series will again feature seven regional qualifying heats, one of those at Dubbo Turf Club, each boasting prizemoney of $150,000 before the incredibly rich final at Royal Randwick on April 7.
“The Country Championships excites all country participants and racegoers and is an important aspirational target for country racing,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’Landys said.
“The increase in prizemoney for the Final to $500,000 will further strengthen the series.
“The race meeting on which the heat will be conducted will be a Showcase meeting, with all other races on the program carrying a minimum of $30,000 prizemoney.”
The Country Championships commence on Sunday, February 18 next year with the Mid North Coast qualifier returning to Port Macquarie, having staged the first regional heat in 2015.
The series then features its double-header weekend at Goulburn on Saturday, February 24 and at Mudgee on Sunday, February 25. The 2018 Country Championships will be the first occasion on which Mudgee hosts the Central Districts qualifier after being run at Wellington in both 2016 and 2017.
Wellington racegoers will still have plenty to look forward to at the time of year due to the annual Wellington Boot carnival.
The Southern Districts qualifier returns to Wagga Wagga in early March 2018. Grafton, Scone and Dubbo will again all host their region’s qualifying heats in 2018.
The Northern Rivers heat which produced Free Standing, will be run on Sunday, March 11. The Hunter and North-West qualifier at Scone will be held on Sunday, March 18 with the regional qualifiers rounded out with the Western Region qualifier at Dubbo on Sunday, March 25.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
