Cup day stakes raised to $40k minimum

WELLINGTON CUP day at Trentham in January will have a minimum stake of $40,000.

Five major racedays will benefit from a $40,000 minimum next year, the others being Derby day at Ellerslie in March, the Spring Classic meeting at Hastings in October, New Zealand Cup day at Riccarton in November and the Boxing Day meeting at Ellerslie.

Details of increased stakes for those meetings, along with another 15 meetings which will have a $30,000 minimum next year, were announced by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

In the case of cup day at Trentham and the Spring Classic meeting, the increases for the lower-class races will be substantial.

Three of the 10 races on cup day this year had a stake of $20,000, another was worth $25,000, with three at $30,000.

The Spring Classic meeting at Hastings in October has six races worth less than $40,000, with two apiece at $20,000, $25,000 and $30,000.

Five central districts meetings will have minimum stakes of $30,000 next year, with three days at Trentham and one each at Hastings and Awapuni.

In addition, the minimum prize money for Group II races will rise from $85,000 to $100,000 in 2014.

Twenty-two of the current premier meetings will continue to have a $20,000 minimum next year, with five premier meetings reverting to feature status.