A $1.1 million racing carnival of international standing, featuring a race worth as much as the Auckland Cup, will be held in Hastings in the spring.
Hawkes Bay Racing Incorporated, in a joint venture with Hawkes Bay businesses Kelt Capital and Mudgway PartsWorld, has put together a race meeting that surpasses anything ever staged in the central North Island.
Three days of premier racing on the Hastings track are set down for August 25, September 15 and September 29.
Significant increases in sponsorship by Kelt Capital and Mudgway PartsWorld have helped boost total stake money for the three days by $190,000 on last year, with all group races having increased prizemoney.
The group one Kelt Capital Stakes, the carnival's major event on the final day, will carry a stake of $350,000.
Run last year for $250,000, the 2040m weight-for-age event is now the equal-richest group-one race in the country.
The Auckland Cup and New Zealand Derby, both run at the Ellerslie summer carnival, were the only group one races worth as much this season.
Kelt Capital Stakes day will have prizemoney totalling $520,000 and will be the fifth richest raceday in New Zealand, behind only the Auckland Cup, Wellington Cup, NZ Derby and the Waikato Racing Club's Mercedes Classique.
Another feature race on Kelt Stakes day will be the $30,000 GR Kelt Memorial, a listed event over 1400m.
The Mudgway PartsWorld Stakes (1400m), the main event on the first day, will have the stake increased from $100,000 to $150,000 making it the equal richest group-two race in the country.
- NZPA
Racing: Big stakes rise at Hastings
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