Racing Victoria Summer Series | news.com.au – Australia’s premier news site

Racing Victoria has invested $ 360,000 to increase the price of four summer sprints to a total of $ 1 million.

As part of the new series, Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) has been pushed back a fortnight from its traditional New Years slot and will take place at the Flemington reunion on January 15th.

The Standish Handicap was first held on New Years Day in 1904, with only the 1942 and 1965 editions of the race not taking place at the first meeting of the year in Flemington.

As part of the summer reshuffle, the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes will replace the Standish Handicap as a New Year’s feature alongside the Bagot Handicap (2800m).

Racing Victoria’s Summer Sprint Series begins with the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on December 11, which was advanced from its previous position in January.

The Christmas stakes quoted at Caulfield on Boxing Day will drop from 1200m to 1100m to provide the perfect lead to the Standish Handicap.

Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) will be the last of four Summer Sprint Series races on January 29.

The Australia Stakes had the biggest prize increase with Racing Victoria raising the stakes from $ 200,000 to $ 350,000.

Winners of three of the four races will earn voting exemptions in Group 1 events during the Fall Carnival.

The Christmas Stakes winner will receive an Oakleigh Plate ballot exemption while the Standish Handicap and Australia Stakes winners will earn a Newmarket Handicap start.

“The $ 1 Million Summer Sprint Series is an exciting new initiative that we hope will lead to an increase in the size of the courts and the quality of these races, giving Connections the opportunity to have their star sprinters run in. all four stages of the series, ”said RV’s racing director Greg Carpenter.

“We look forward to seeing some of the country’s fastest horses in action in Melbourne throughout the summer.”

Originally posted as Racing Victoria raises the price of four sprints as part of the $ 1 million Summer Sprint Series plan