Racing: Hawkes Bay ups Cup to $100,000

This year's Hawkes Bay Cup will carry a stake of $100,000, an increase of $20,000 on last year.

The 2200m group two event at Hastings on April 23 will be one of only two cup races run in the central North Island this autumn carrying a six-figure stake.

The other is the $100,000 Rotorua Cup on May 14.

The Hawkes Bay Cup will again be sponsored by Davmet New Zealand, the seventh successive year the Hawkes Bay meat exporting company has been involved with the race.

"To have the stake increased to $100,000 is just reward for Davmet for all their efforts over the years," Hawkes Bay Racing chief executive John McGifford said.

"The Hawkes Bay Cup is a very strategic race and we want to make it an important event on the racing calendar."

Stakemoney has been increased by $29,000 over the 10-race programme at this year's Hawkes Bay Cup meeting, bringing the total stakemoney for the day up to $213,000.

"It is clearly the richest feature raceday in the central districts and we, as a club, think that it should be promoted to a premier day next season," McGifford said.

The number of premier race meetings is restricted but there is one vacancy for the 2005-2006 racing season after the Wellington Racing Club relinquished one of its days.

- NZPA