THE New South Wales picnic racing industry has received an enormous boost, with an additional $50,000 race added to the 2024-2025 turf calendar.
Picnic Racing Association secretary Deidre Adam recently met with Racing NSW supremos Peter V’landys and Scott Kennedy with a proposal for a 1000m picnic championship sprint race to complement the hugely-successful 1400m picnic championship final, held annually.
Horses earn seasonal points at all picnic race meetings across New South Wales, with the highest point-scorers making up the final field in a 1400m $50,000 picnic championships final.
Adam said sprinters now have a race of their own to compete for the same prize money.
“Following a very successful meeting with Peter V’Landys and Scott Kennedy in August, the NSW Picnic Racing Association wish to announce the introduction of a $50,000 sprint race final to be added to the NSW picnic champion series for the 2024-2025 season, beginning at Geurie on Saturday, September 14,” Adam said.
“The support Racing NSW has shown picnic racing over the past few years has been amazing, and the industry has never been in a better position.
“With minimum prizemoney levels increased to $7000 per race, along with fantastic race fields, increase in approved rider numbers, and the introduction of the extra race for the picnic champion series, the future of picnic racing is looking bright,” she said.
Words and Image: Bill Poulos
