The Wagga Gold Cup and Town Plate will both be worth $200,000 next year, courtesy of further prizemoney increases from Racing NSW.
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The Wagga Gold Cup and Town Plate will join the Albury Gold Cup as three of the richest races in country NSW after an announcement from Racing NSW on Tuesday.
Murrumbidgee Turf Club's May carnival received a $135,000 injection in prizemoney.
The Gold Cup and Town Plate have been boosted to $200,000, from $170,000 and $150,000 respectively, while the Queen of the South has been increased from $40,000 to $75,000.
There will also be a Country Magic, for country-trained horses only, worth $50,000 at Wagga, as there will be at each major country carnival across the state.
The Snake Gully carnival at Gundagai is also a big winner. The feature race has been boosted from $70,000 to $100,000, while the Snake Gully Flying has jumped $15,000 to $50,000.
The Albury Gold Cup has been increased from $180,000 to $200,000, while their Flat Knacker ($75,000), City Handicap ($75,000) and Albury Mile ($50,000) also reach new levels.
Racing NSW chairman Russell Balding AO wants great carnivals in both the city and the bush.
"A key strategic priority of Racing NSW is for country racing to continue to stage great carnivals and Cup race meetings and to ensure that thoroughbred racing is widely celebrated and enjoyed throughout all of NSW, not just Sydney and the provincials," Balding said.
"Thoroughbred racing, dressing up, heading to the races and having a bet is part of what we do.
"The prizemoney increases for these meetings, along with the marketing and promotion of the carnivals themselves, particularly to the younger demographic, will lift NSW Country Racing to a whole new level.
"In addition, the promotion, through Destination NSW of the particular regional attractions and experiences leading up to and during the actual country racing carnival, will be another reason for people to visit regional NSW and make country racing part of their short stay or holiday whilst in the region."
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Mr Kevin Anderson MP, believes the prizemoney increases will provide a huge boost to regional communities.
"The increase in prizemoney is not only good for racing, but has great flow on effects for regional communities," Anderson said.
"It's no secret that our regional communities are doing it tough, especially given this unprecedented drought, so investing in racedays can help drive tourism and increase bed nights which is crucial to our local economies.
"Racing is more than just an event in regional communities, it's part of the culture, which is why we want to continue to make racing as enjoyable and accessible as possible."
The increases are due to be funded by a new bet type with the TAB, called Odds and Evens.
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