Ten-race metropolitan meetings will continue on a slightly reduced scale in Victoria next season.
In announcing the return of 10-race fixtures from the Memsie Stakes meeting at Caulfield on August 31, Racing Victoria says it is trying to strike a balance between maximising industry returns and racetrack preservation.
The 2024/25 window for having 10 races will be open for eight months until April 26.
Racing Victoria added a 10th race to city-class meetings on a trial basis this season for 10 months between August and May. It also had 10 races last Saturday because demand saw one of the nine races split into two divisions.
The regulator insists the experiment generated gross wagering revenue of $5 million, supporting the payment of an additional $2.8 million in prize money during time when the sustainability of prize money is being questioned.
An extra 34 Saturday metropolitan races were run as part of the trial with average field sizes higher than meeting averages. Those additional races were won by 27 trainers and 28 jockeys.
The number of Saturday metropolitan meetings programmed with 10 races will be reduced from 40 in the current season to 32, and the 10th race will again carry prizemoney of $80,000.
“Based on the feedback received and our analysis of the performance of the 10th race, we have landed on a model that will see 10-race cards programmed eight months of the year, during periods where days are longer,” RV executive general manager - Racing Matt Welsh said.
“Saturday metropolitan meetings represent 10 per cent of our product but deliver 40 per cent of our wagering turnover.
“It is the peak timeslot for punters to engage and wagering service providers have reinforced that post-trial.”
NSW programs 10 races at Saturday metropolitan meetings throughout 12 months of the year, while Queensland trialled 10-race city cards on 25 Saturdays from October to April in the 2023/24 season.
