Lift in stakes at Ashburton

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 41

Lift in stakes at Ashburton

A stake of $15,000 will be attached to the National Bloodstock Flying Stakes, the feature race at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s spring meeting on Saturday, September 28. This is a rise of $6OOO on the stake paid for this feature event 12 months ago. This year’s race, one of five to be televised live from the meeting, is certain to attract a fine field, with Roydon Glen having been declared as a starter. An invitation race for fast-class trotters has also been included in the programme for the first time, filling a long-felt gap in the racing opportunities in the spring for these horses. Run over 2400 m, the race will be

worth $BOOO. Other races to be televised will be the $6OOO qualifying heat for the Sires’ Stakes Final, the C. S. Stevens Group Handicap, a 3200 m with a front of C 5 carrying a stake of $6OOO, against $5OOO, and the Robert McArdle Bloodstock Pace, a 2400 m for C 3 and C 4 horses with a stake of $4750, an increase of $1550. The club has increased the stake for CO races from $2200 to $3250, with Cl events rising to $3750 from $2500, and C2 races from $2850 to $4250. The increases reflect a most successful season in 1984-85, increased sponsorship and increased subsidies from the Racing Authority.