Australia’s richest staying race the RSN Sandown Cup will soar to new heights in 2014 when it carries a record $250,000 in prize money.
Regarded as the country’s premier staying event, the RSN Sandown Cup will also become one of the richest races in the country with connections of the winning greyhound earning $175,000.
“The RSN Sandown Cup is Australia’s best race for stayers and now carries a purse worthy of such status,” said Geoff Dawson, Chairman of the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club.
“The race has been won by some of the best stayers ever to grace the track, including dual winners Lizrene and Paul’s Thunder, and the greatest of them all, the ‘Warrnambool Warrior’ Bold Trease.
Bold Trease raced into racing folklore having won an amazing four consecutive Sandown Cups and capturing the public’s imagination with his eye catching last-to-first racing style. So highly regarded is Bold Trease that the club has not only named a bar after him, but names the $145,000 Group 1 staying event on Melbourne Cup night in his honour.
Sandown Chief Executive Greg Miller said the increased prize money continues an industry wide push to increase the profile and returns to staying greyhounds.
“Staying races are not only a fantastic spectacle, but an integral feature of the sport, highlighting the greyhound’s strength and stamina.
“GRV recently announced increased prize money for all races over middle and staying distances, and we’re delighted to do our bit in making the Sandown Cup one of the country’s most sought after events.”
The RSN Sandown Cup is final event of a month long greyhound carnival featuring the best greyhounds from around the country, and includes seven black type events and over $750,000 in total prize money.
The prize money increase is one of three announcement made by the club, including
– the introduction of the Sandown Triple Crown, and
– a trip for two to Paris to be won as part of the Judy Hayley Memorial Lady Trainers series
For further information regarding any of tonight’s announcements, contact the Club on (03) 9546 9511, or email Michael Floyd, Racing and Media Manager.
