KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Herald Christmas Racing Carnival will have prize money of more than $1.7 million.
An additional $115,000 in stakes will boost four of the major races in addition to an increase to the minimum stakes payable on the two premier racedays - Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
The Auckland Racing Club is looking to build on the success of the inaugural Auckland Cup week in March last year, particularly as this summer celebrates a 150-year milestone for the Ellerslie Racecourse.
Also at stake over the summer is more than $200,000 in prizes for six separate fashion competitions.
"The message is clear," says ARC chief executive Chris Weaver. "It's time to plan your summer racing wardrobe and help create the fashion tradition in Auckland that's so firmly established as part of racing across the Tasman.
"We were delighted with how people embraced the first Auckland Cup week. Now we are looking forward to more people emulating the style seen at Randwick and Flemington as part of the celebration of racing, summer and our amazing city.
"Fantastic sponsors have come on board or returned to provide really exciting prizes, including a Mercedes and diamonds as well as fashion and beauty prizes."
To kick off the season, the ARC has enlisted some of the country's best-known faces to demonstrate race-day fashion for the 2006-2007 season.
Models at the Ellerslie summer of racing media launch yesterday included among others Ellerslie ambassador Bridgette O'Sullivan and her daughters, TV3 racing presenter James Gemmell, former Miss New Zealand-turned MTV presenter Amber Peebles, TV presenter Jesse Gurunathan, Prime newsreader Suzy Clarkson and former New Zealand cricketer Mark Richardson.
