West Australian Trilogy race series gets 25% prize boost including The Sandgroper
Western Australia's most affluent racing weekend is set to achieve an unprecedented magnitude as prizemoney soars to nearly $7 million for the world's sole tri-code slot race series, the distinguished Western Trilogy.
The CEO of Racing and Wagering Western Australia, Ian Edwards, disclosed that this remarkable prize pool is bolstered by an additional $1 million, aimed at elevating ‘The Quokka' within the elite echelons of thoroughbred races nationwide.
The Western Trilogy race The Sandgroper will increase to $600,000.
“WA racing's robust vigour and vitality are reflected in our prize money augmentation for our one-of-a-kind autumn carnival. This event is a testament to the unity of thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing,” Edwards remarked.
He further highlighted the remarkable success of all three races, stating, “The considerable interest they've generated merits the additional 25 per cent we're allocating to each race's prize pool.
“We aspire to reward slot holders who have wholeheartedly embraced this innovative concept and are supporting the races for their long-term future.”
Already an emblem of Western Australian racing opulence, the $4 million ‘Quokka' is set to shatter records yet again, scaling to an astounding $5 million the following year.
The Nullarbor's $1 million prize will swell to $1.25 million in 2024, positioning it as the second richest harness race in the nation.
The greyhound slot race, ‘The Sandgroper'; sees its prize jump from $500,000 to $600,000.
Edwards expounded, “The Western Trilogy represents a bold and pioneering initiative we successfully launched this year, with the intention to amplify its significance in the future.
Elevating the Quokka to $5 million situates it among the top thoroughbred races nationwide, reinforcing our commitment to maintain public interest in WA's autumn racing carnival.”
The races will span across three days in the subsequent year, beginning with ‘The Sandgroper' on Thursday, April 18, followed by ‘The Nullarbor' on Friday evening at the venerable Gloucester Park, and culminating in a grand finale at Ascot on Saturday with ‘The Quokka'.
Edwards expressed his anticipation, “We're eager to thrust Perth into the limelight, captivating the interest of racing enthusiasts across Australia.”
A study undertaken by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) unveiled that the Western Trilogy generated an economic windfall of almost $6 million for the state in the current year.
Approximately 8000 spectators, including those journeying from other regions of WA and interstate, graced the groundbreaking race series with their presence.
The overwhelming majority expressed a high likelihood of their return the following year, with over 90 per cent asserting that the event met or surpassed their expectations.
The Western Trilogy has been slated to run from April 18-20, 2024, primed to capture the nation's attention yet again.
The Dave Hobby-trained Crumble Monelli won the inaugural running of The Sandgroper deliver WA a local victory in first slot race.