New Bonus Scheme On Big Sprints

 
13 Nov 2008


The Auckland Racing Club, in association with Cambridge Stud
, today announced the inception of a $200,000 bonus payment on the country's two Group I 1200m races.



 



To be known as the Cambridge Stud $200,000 Bonus, the incentive will be available to the horse that is able to win both the Waiwera Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on January 1, 2009, as well as the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on the 17
th of the same month.



 



Auckland Racing Club Chairman Mr. Bill Gianotti said of the bonus: "We are delighted that, with the help of Sir Patrick Hogan of Cambridge Stud, we have been able to make this bonus a reality. We see it as the completion of a three stage plan to give the Waiwera Railway Stakes every chance of retaining its Group I status. Earlier in the year we announced a change in the conditions to set weight and penalties, as well as a $50,000 stakes increase. The bonus completes our plans to strengthen this important Group I sprint."



 



Sir Patrick Hogan added: "Justine and I got a huge thrill when Diamond Lover won the Railway in 1987. [Her time of 1-07.73 is still the Ellerslie 1200m track record] It is a race that I believe the industry needs to retain as a Group I event and we are thrilled to help the Auckland Racing Club in their endeavours to do this."



 



Nominations for the Group I Waiwera Railway Stakes, along with other features in The New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival and Auckland Cup Week 2009 (including the $1million Stella Artois Auckland Cup and the $2.2million NZ Derby ), close this coming Monday, 17 November with the National Racing Bureau.