The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) is delighted with the prizemoney announcements made today by Racing Victoria (RV), with significant increases made to Ladbrokes Friday Night Light minimum prizemoney levels as well as many of the Club’s feature black-type races, including the Group 1 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes and the Group 2 Feehan Stakes.
Working in consultation with RV and on the back of the industry’s strong financial year results with strong growth in wagering, the MVRC are excited to see the Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights program strengthen, with the increase in prizemoney minimums to continue to improve field quality and sizes on Victoria’s second biggest wagering race meeting each week.
The Group 1 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m) has also received a significant $500,000 boost to $1M, which sees it now equal the prizemoney level of the Club’s other Group 1 sprints in the Moir Stakes (1000m) and Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m). The jewel in The Valley’s Autumn Calendar and the last Group 1 of the Festival of Racing, the Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes will continue to be a key target for the best sprinters in Australia who seek to add their name to the honour roll.
The Group 2 Feehan Stakes was another feature race highlighted to receive a boost from $250,000 to $500,000, providing the race a chance to become the key stepping stone for those Ladbrokes Cox Plate hopefuls seeking to find their way into the race and win the only golden ticket available.
Some of the key announcements made today by Racing Victoria that will continue to grow and improve the MVRC’s race calendar have included:
The Valley Minimums
- A major investment in Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights at The Valley with minimum prizemoney for the 11 standard meetings rising from $50,000 to $60,000, for the three feature meetings from $60,000 to $75,000, and for the three Group 1 meetings from $125,000 to $130,000.
- Minimum prizemoney levels for standard Saturday metropolitan races at The Valley will be increased from $125,000 to $130,000;
The Valley Features
Prizemoney has been increased to the following totals for these feature black-type races at The Valley:
- William Reid Stakes (1200m, March 25, 2022) - $1 million (up $500,000)
- Feehan Stakes (1600m, 4 September, 2021) - $500,000 (up $250,000)
- Torney Night Cup (2500m, February 18, 2022) - $200,000 (up $50,000)
Group & Listed Minimums
The introduction of new minimums for black type races will see prizemoney increases for 16 Group and Listed races run at The Valley automatically updated. The new black type prizemoney minimums are:
- Group 1 minimum - $750,000 (up from $500,000)
- Group 2 minimum - $300,000 (up from $200,000)
- Group 3 minimum - $200,000 (up from $160,000)
- Listed minimum - $160,000 (up from $140,000)
Quotes attributable to MVRC CEO, Michael Browell
“The MVRC is really excited by Racing Victoria’s prizemoney announcement today as it clearly highlights that our Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights race program is one that has been rewarded for its continual growth in wagering and popularity over many years.
“As the second highest wagered race meeting each week when in season, these prizemoney increases will see the Club able to continue to attract the best horses, trainers and jockeys to race under lights at The Valley on a Friday night.
“The feature finale to our Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights season in the Group 1 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes was also significantly increased to now sit at $1M, pleasingly in line with our other two Group 1 sprint races.
“It allows us to attract the best of the best in the sprinting ranks to target The Valley’s Group 1 races and we know there is no match to the atmosphere and excitement that our Group 1 races receive under lights.
“The Group 2 Feehan Stakes was another important feature race that we were pleased to see receive a prizemoney uplift to $500,000. With this prizemoney increase and its ballot exemption to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, our aim is to get this race to Group 1 status in the year’s ahead so it can rightfully sit amongst other Group 1 metropolitan races on the calendar in early September.
“I congratulate Racing Victoria on these prizemoney increases. This announcement reflects the strength of the industry in Victoria and with over $280M in prizemoney and bonuses on offer next season, there has never been a more exciting time to be involved in racing in Victoria“.