News

Scone's extraordinary new pinnacle in country racing

8th Mar 2011

Thoroughbred News - By Brian Russell - Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Tremendous enthusiasm has been engendered nation wide for an extraordinary new pinnacle in country racing scheduled in mid May. It is to be the staging on Friday and Saturday May 13 and 14 of a new look two day Scone Cup carnival, one which will involve a day’s program that takes the place of the normal Sydney meeting, eight races in the $100,000 to $250,000 range and two stakes events.

All told, taking in the prize money, value of trophies and New South Wales Racing’s BOBS rewards, over $1.7million will he distributed over the two days. Every race carries a trophy, those for four of the them each valued at $2,100 plus and four others at $1,200, and every one of the 16 races, bar three, is being sponsored by a major Hunter Valley breeding operations.

Scone secretary Helen Sinclair has announced the final details for the racing.They see the $625,000 prize money eight race program on the Friday highlighted by the $175,000 Emirates Park Scone Cup-LR (open quality,1600m) and two $100,000 events, the Inglis 2YO Challenge (yearling sale graduates, 1300m) and Prydes EasiFeed Quality Open (1100m).

The other five races on the Friday are each worth $50,000 and are a Segenhoe Maiden (1000m), Kitchwin Hills Maiden (1600m),Turangga Farm Class1 (1100m), Cressfield Class 2 (1300m) and Kia Ora Benchmark 65 (1400m).

On the stand alone Saturday, Scone will offer prize money of $995,000, nearly $100,000 more than was available at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.That Sydney program was headed by the $200,000 Silver Slipper, $200,000 Hobartville Stakes and $125,000 Millie Fox Stakes. Five of the Scone Saturday races are each valued at $100,000 or more.They are the $250,000 Inglis 3YO Guineas (1600m), $175,000 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic-LR (open fillies and mares,1400m), $130,000 Coolmore 3YO Fillies (1100m), $130,000 Darley 2YO Fillies (1400m) and $100,000 Yarraman Park-Horsepower Open (1300m).

Three $70,000 events are a Vinery Stud Maiden (1300m), Northern Meteor Sprint Benchmark 75 (1100m) and Patinack Farm Benchmark 75 (2200m). Northern Meteor is a Widden stud sire.

Both days are expected to attract many quality performers, including some proven at Group race level, leading trainers and jockeys and possibly the biggest crowds seen at country racing. Many will be entertained royally in giant marquees overlooking the big, roomy, splendidly surfaced racecourse.

The two days of racing are the biggest highlight of the Annual Scone & Upper Hunter Horses Festival, one that celebrates the region’s role as Australia’s Horse Capital. The first thoroughbred stallion to stand in the Upper Hunter is believed to be Crawford, a horse installed at Segenhoe in 1826.

The 2011 Horse Festival commences April 28 and concludes May 15. Besides the races, it embraces two days of Inglis Hunter Valley breeders yearling sales at Scone, Thursday and Sunday May 12 and 15, Hunter Valley Breeders’ Annual Awards Night (Wednesday May 11), stud bus tours, Festival street parade (Saturday May 7) and a wide variety of other horse sports and social events. More details, programs on www.upperhuntertourism.com.au. or Scone Visitor Centre (02) 6545 1526.

Contacts for the Scone Race Club are (02) 6545 1607, 0418 201 832, email sconeraceclub@bigpond.com or www.sconeraceclub.com.au.