Prize money up from 1st Feb

Victorian thoroughbred owners, trainers and jockeys will be receiving a welcome pay rise with a prize money boost to take effect from 1 February.

At its final meeting for the year on 4 December, the RVL board confirmed that the second phase of a two-year $23.6 million prize money plan will be implemented from 1 February 2009.

The increases are targeted at minimum prize money levels for standard races to ensure these additional funds are spread broadly to racing’s participants.

The increases to minimum prize money include:

* Metropolitan Saturday and feature night races from $60,000 to $70,000
* Metropolitan Midweek and standard night races from $27,500 to $30,000
* Country Showcase races from $21,500 to $22,500
* Country Minimum TAB races from $10,500 to $12,000 and from $13,500 to $15,000 for Thursdays and Sunday P1 meetings.