Local participants set for prizemoney increase during Nationals week
Local participants set for prizemoney increase during Nationals week
As South Australia prepares to host the Nationals for the first time since 2016, local participants are set to reap the benefits with significant prizemoney increases for events during Nationals week.
These prizemoney increases will provide diverse racing opportunities for all of our greyhounds and ensure that all race meetings across Nationals week are supported with strong racing programs.
Key features of the Nationals week prizemoney increases include:
• Saturday August 24 night meeting at Angle Park will not only feature the two Group 1 $136,750 National Sprint and Distance finals there will also be an extra $1,500 added to each other event on the program including the Classic 2024 Prelude (1) final enticing some of the very best chasers.
• The meeting at Murray Bridge on Saturday morning of the 24th August will be conducted with City A Metro Prizemoney (Category 1) with a shared meeting across the straight track and one turn track planned.
As well as the Group 3 $44,875 National Straight Track final, there will be an Open straight track feature over the 350m along with a Grade 5 over 300m.
One turn feature races will include a special event over the 455m along with two finals, a grade 6 455m final and a grade 5 395m final with those heats run on Friday August 16.
• Thursday’s Angle Park meeting on August 22 will provide an opportunity for some short-course events with the main focus for sprinting, middle distance and stayers at Angle Park on the Saturday night. The Thursday meeting will provide a mix of events over multiple distances with highlighted events being Open Maiden heats over the 530m, a Maiden/Grade 6 final over 595m from the heats on Thursday August 15, a Grade 5 for Male dogs over 530m along with a restricted Grade 6 (1-2 win) event over 530m.
Over the 342m, we have programmed a Mixed 342m event with some of the quickest bend greyhounds on show along with two finals from heats on the Saturday morning August 17, one Time Graded 1-4 wins (3 heats) and one Time Graded 5+ wins (2 heats) which will provide some of our lower category racers an opportunity to share the spotlight at a City A meeting.
• At all other meetings, there will a Nationals Bonus payment where all winners, seconds and thirds will receive $100, $50, $25 extra respectively.
As well as Nationals week, the SA National Sprint and Distance finals to be decided at Angle Park on Thursday August 8 will also see total prizemoney elevated from $15,000 to $25,000.
GRSA's Racing Manger Shaun Mathieson said that the prizemoney increases will look to ensure the strongest possible programs during Nationals week.
"With all eyes on SA during Nationals week, we want to ensure that we have the strongest possible programs right across Nationals week," Mathieson said.
"WIth Gawler out of action due to the Gawler Show, Angle Park and Murray Bridge will be the focus of our meetings and it is hoped that the spread of racing opportunities provides for a great Nationals week for our local participants and industry."