Racing NSW has confirmed wholesale changes to programing and prize money for the forthcoming 2017 Spring Racing Carnival, highlighted by the inaugural running of the $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 14th.

Chautauqua is early favourite to win The Everest at Royal Randwick on October 14th. Photo: Steve Hart

Chautauqua is early favourite to win The Everest at Royal Randwick on October 14th. Photo: Steve Hart

The Everest will not only be Australia’s richest race, it will also figure as the world’s richest turf race and third overall behind the Pegasus World Cup (1810m) in the United States and the Dubai World Cup (2000m).

The changes to the Sydney Spring Carnival program are centred primarily on three-year-old events and middle-distance weight-for-age races, while a further $2 million in prize money on top of the lucrative prize pool for The Everest will be injected into the carnival.

ATC Chairman Lauri Macri said that the changes in programming and prize money will benefit a host of connections, trainers and horses targeting feature races later in the carnival.

“The Sydney Spring Carnival continues to deliver racing of the highest quality and these program improvements will provide enhanced opportunities for connections with horses in sprinting, middle distance and staying categories,” Macri said on a Racing NSW media statement.

“The revised three-year-old program in particular is very exciting as it presents a more streamlined pathway towards the Group 1 De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose. This also allows a better progression for three-year-old sprinter-milers aimed at feature races in Melbourne later in spring.”

The changes to dates and prize money for the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival are as follows:

Prizemoney Changes

  • The Rosebud $150,000 (previously $100,000)
  • Premiere Stakes $500,000 (previously $200,000)
  • Hill Stakes $500,000 (previously $200,000)
  • Craven Plate $500,000 (previously $125,000)

Date Changes

  • San Domenico Stakes Saturday 26th August
  • Ming Dynasty Saturday 26th August
  • Run To The Rose Saturday 9th September
  • Stan Fox Stakes Saturday 9th September
  • Golden Rose Saturday 23rd September
  • Reginal Allen Quality Saturday 14th October
  • Roman Consul Stakes Saturday 7th October
  • Kingston Town Stakes Saturday 16th September

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.