MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club will consider increasing prizemoney for next year’s Wagga Gold Cup to keep it as the jewel in the crown.
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It has been a big week for the MTC with Racing NSW announcing significant prizemoney increases for the Wagga Town Plate and supporting races over the carnival.
Racing NSW have increased the Town Plate to $150,000, a move that puts it alongside the listed Wagga Gold Cup as MTC’s richest race.
It has also awarded ‘country showcase’ status to the Town Plate and Gold Cup meetings, meaning a minimum of $30,000 for each race on both days.
The injection of funds suddenly puts the Town Plate on level footing with the Gold Cup.
MTC have made a number of increases to carnival prizemoney in recent years and the board will soon decide whether it continues that trend.
“We probably need a bit of time to process the prizemoney increases that have been announced this week and then work on a plan going forward,” MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook said.
Sanbrook said consideration will be given to increasing Cup prizemoney.
“Obviously the Wagga Cup has been the jewel in the crown since the club started so it would be logical to think that’s the way we want to keep it,” he said.
“At this stage we’re just thinking how lucky we are to have two races that are worth that amount of prizemoney.”
Sanbrook expects this week’s increases to attract even higher quality horses.