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A harness racing stakes explosion is set to push the New Zealand Trotting Cup to $750,000.
And the first $1 million cup may not be too far away.
Addington officials confirmed to the Herald yesterday that they hope to increase this season's cup stake to $750,000 next week.
The great race has already been increased from $500,000 to $600,000 this season, but Addington boss Mike Godber says another, larger increase is likely.
"We are hoping to make it $750,000 for this November's race," Godber confirmed.
The new increase depends on the New Zealand Racing Board approving extra funding, which is expected for all codes after the TAB had a larger turnover increase than expected last season.
"If we get what we are expecting then we will be going to $750,000 for this season," said Godber.
That will be the latest in a crazed explosion of stakes in all three racing codes in the past 12 months, with harness racing in particular experiencing unbelievable stakes growth in its biggest races.
But Godber hints that may not be finished.
"We would like to see our cup go to $1 million at some stage," he said.
While he wouldn't confirm it could be next season, the Herald understands that is where senior Addington official are hoping to head.
The boost to $750,000 makes the New Zealand Cup the richest harness race in Australasia outside of the Interdominions, which moves venue every season and has financial aid from every major club in both countries.
The move comes just two days after sponsors Woodlands Stud confirmed they will be looking to take the Great Northern Pacing Derby to $250,000 this season, while all Friday night races at Alexandra Park will be a minimum of $10,000.
Godber says the stake increases at Addington won't end with the cup.
"This will be the biggest one but we have a few more to work through for this season as well," he said.
The only shame about the cup stake boost is that it has come at the same time as the equine influenza outbreak in Australia, meaning no extra Australian interest is expected when nominations close today.
While defending champion Flashing Red sneaked into the country just days before the EI crisis closed New Zealand borders to equine traffic, other Australians are unlikely for the glamour event.
The biggest loss is Blacks A Fake, the dual Interdominion winner who was going to be nominated for the cup and would have been likely to come with the latest stake increase. Instead, he will be staying in Queensland, recovering from his own case of EI.
