The doubling of cash incentives for two challenges – one for trainers, one for jockeys – is aimed at strengthening Kangaroo Island Racing Club’s annual three-meeting calendar.
The Arthur Daw Memorial Trainers Challenge will offer $10,000 in 2021 (up from $5500), while the Austin Stansborough Memorial Jockeys Challenge will offer $2000 (up from $1000).
Points are awarded to placegetters in all races across the three meetings: January’s non-TAB meeting, plus the two Kangaroo Island Cup Carnival meetings in February.
The challenges have already been held twice (2019 and 2020) and club secretary Greg Miller said securing the extra cash incentives – thanks largely to the generosity of two individuals, plus a $5000 Federal Government grant – would provide another incentive for trainers and jockeys to compete in Kangaroo Island.
“To start with, we’re trying to increase our numbers for the non-TAB meeting,” Mr Miller said.
“At the same time we want to encourage trainers to bring their horses over for the two days of the carnival.
“So we’re very fortunate we’ve got these extra cash incentives, thanks to some very loyal friends at the racing club.”
The winners of the first two trainers’ challenges, Jordan Frew and Dennis O’Leary, both had runners at all three race meetings, automatically earning extra points towards their tallies.
“You get five bonus points on top of the regular point scoring, which is four points for the winner, two points for the runner-up and one point for the third placegetter,” Mr Miller explained.
“We hope this initiative assists us in getting better fields and jockeys to attend our three meetings.
“At this stage, the new cash incentive levels for these two challenges are for 2021 only. We’re hopeful of retaining those levels in future, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Mr Miller said the generosity of Arthur Daw’s family saw the creation of the trainers’ challenge, while the late Mr Stansborough’s daughter, Kangaroo Island resident and racehorse owner Donna Stephenson, led to the sponsorship of the jockeys’ challenge.
The $5000 Government grant was via the Regional Bushfire Tourism Grants.
Meanwhile the club is looking forward to its 2021 carnival, despite COVID-enforced crowd restrictions.
“We had nearly 4000 on Cup day this year,” Mr Miller said.
“We were advised this week by SA Health that our COVID-19 management plan has been approved to allow us to have 2500 on track for the 2021 Cup, to be held on Saturday, February 20.”
