Racing Queensland has announced $1 million first prize for this year’s Stradbroke Handicap to ensure the best horses contest the Group 1 sprint.
The 1400-metre Group 1 handicap will be run at Eagle Farm on June 8, previously had a first prize of $640,000 but an additional $360,000 has been added to the winner’s cheque. The placegetters will receive the same purse as previously.
“We understand the importance of funding grassroots racing and have made good progress in that area,” Racing Queensland chairman Kevin Dixon said. “We are on track to deliver $2 million in increased prizemoney across Queensland this year.
“However, it’s also important to keep Queensland’s most time-honoured race relevant and ensure that it remains one of the most important on the Australian racing calendar.”
Racing Queensland may also consider changing the race conditions in order to attract better quality horses.
Under handicap condition, the Stradbroke will never attract a horse like Black Caviar because she would be asked to carry too much weight. But if it was changed to a set weights and penalties race, or a quality handicap, it would give the best horses the option to run.
By Owens Wong
