MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: Gosford soars as Racing NSW announce a standalone Saturday meeting in May 2020
Monday saw a huge boost for provincial racing as Racing NSW announced that Gosford will host a standalone Saturday race meeting on the 9th May 2020. In addition, both Newcastle and Illawarra race clubs were each allocated standalone status for Spring 2019.
Racing NSW’s strategy is to give the metropolitan racetracks a break after both their Spring and Autumn carnivals and in doing so, take feature racing afield to the provincial areas in a bid to raise the profile of racing and attract new audiences.
The Gosford Gold Cup will be relocated from its current January date to Saturday 9th May 2020 and will feature a boost in prizemoney, with a minimum of $200,000 on offer. There will be further announcements as to what the supporting races will be, although the day will have in excess of $1 million of prizemoney to be won.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the recent announcement of standalone Saturday racing at Provincial clubs. This will enhance the sport of racing and bring in new audiences.” – Said Daniel Lacey, CEO Gosford Race Club
“Not everyone will appreciate the significance of this race meeting, but believe me it is significant. Not only will the whole profile of the Central Coast be raised due to the increased media coverage but the knock on economic benefit will be substantial to local businesses. Hotels, pubs, clubs, restaurants and clothing retail will all see an increase in business over this period” Lacey continued.
Gosford has been pushing for a standalone meeting for a number of years and this has given the club an opportunity to showcase a fantastic event on and off the track as well as building on the emerging racing scene on the Central Coast.
Club Chair and prominent local businessman Michael Cusick added “Gosford Race Club has been in existence for over 100 years and this announcement is the most significant in its history. We will have the top end of racing on the Coast and we all will have the opportunity to see these magnificent animals up close due to the layout of the redeveloped facilities at Gosford.”
“Racing NSW do not just allow any course to host a standalone so we are very grateful and honoured that Gosford has been chosen, it is a credit to all associated with the club” Cusick concluded
The race club has also been granted a two day ‘carnival’ in November with racing on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd.
“I have to thank Peter V’Landys (Racing NSW CEO) for this opportunity, under his stewardship, racing in NSW is going from strength to strength and this is being recognised on an international level. Gosford and the Central Coast will take this opportunity and make the most out of it, we will be giving people yet another reason to visit our fantastic region” Lacey stated.
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