Racing: Riverton attracts record field for centenary race

The best 'chase field in years will line up in the 100th running of the Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton on Easter Saturday (April 15).

And it will almost certainly be the biggest field the Great Western has seen during that century.

"Thirteen is the biggest field in the 100 years to run in the race and we're hoping to get 18," said Doug Stuart of Racing Southland.

Beat this for a field: Crafty Dancer, No Hero, Mercedes Great Northern winner Just A Man, Blakes Boy, Doctor Heights and Artax.

It's a line-up the Auckland and Wellington Racing Clubs and the Canterbury Jockey Club would die for.

Riverton is going big on the promotion.

"I've determined that there are 98 jockeys alive that have ridden in the race and 45 are coming to Riverton with their partners for the race," said Stuart.

"I tracked down one, Lester Stock, who rode in it in 1963, running a alcohol business in Fiji.

"He said 'how the hell did you find me - you should be running the CIB'."

The special one-time stake is $51,250, well up on the 2005 stake of $10,000.

The TAB opened its book on the race this week with No Hero the $3 favourite ahead of Blakes Boy at $4.50 and Just A Man and Artax on $8.

Former Australian Grand National winner Crafty Dancer is on $10.

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Racing's exciting new legislation for $30 million-plus a year to the industry goes before Parliament today.

"The legislation which will give effect to the major announcements made to the racing industry on Friday, March 10, 2006, will be submitted to Parliament tomorrow by way of supplementary order papers," said the Minister for Racing, Winston Peters.

"As I recently indicated, the reduction in totalisator duty to 4 per cent of gambling profits and the decrease in write-down periods for stallions and broodmares will be achieved through amendments to the "Taxation (Depreciation, Payment Dates Alignment, FBT, and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

"Parliament now has the opportunity to create a level playing field for this iconic industry, and to give racing the opportunity to reach its economic potential.

"These long overdue changes will provide the racing industry with the fair go that it has been seeking, as demonstrated by the industry's favourable reaction to last week's announcement.

"It is now time for Parliament to play its part and we expect all those political parties that recognised the inherent unfairness racing was operating under during the election campaign to support this legislation," concluded Peters.