Spring Racing Premierships launch

 The Mark Kavanagh stable hosted the launch of the inaugural Spring Racing Premierships this morning - a new initiative which will lend support to several charities including Vision Australia's Seeing Eye Dogs.

The exciting new concept will recognise, celebrate and reward the elite performances of the sport’s leading jockeys and trainers during the coveted Spring Racing Carnival.

The Spring Racing Premierships take in 16 rounds from this Saturday’s Sofitel Girls Day Out at Flemington through to Sportingbet Sandown Guineas Day at Sportingbet Park on 15 November.

Points will be awarded to the first three placegetters in each race across the 16 premier race days, with bonus points on offer for those who excel in the state’s elite Group 1 races headlined by the Emirates Melbourne Cup, Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup and Sportingbet Cox Plate.

Whilst a lucrative personal award awaits the standout performers, the Spring Racing Premierships also affords an opportunity for the racing industry to support those in the community in need.

The sport’s biggest names will each be representing one of 10 charity partners throughout the Spring Racing Premierships, with each charity in line to share in $65,000 in donations on offer.

There are five Spring Racing Premiership categories, headlined by the Premier Jockey and Premier Trainer titles, with $65,000 in prizemoney on offer for participants as follows;

Premier Spring Racing Jockey - $25,000 to winning jockey; $25,000 to nominated charity

Premier Spring Racing Trainer - $25,000 to winning trainer; $25,000 to nominated charity

Premier Sprint Jockey - $5,000 to winning jockey; $5,000 to nominated charity

Premier Staying Jockey - $5,000 to winning jockey; $5,000 to nominated charity

Premier Young Rider – $5,000 to winning jockey; $5,000 to nominated charity.

Racing Victoria’s Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, said the Spring Racing Premierships provided the ideal platform to highlight the elite performances of racing’s stars.

“The Spring Racing Premierships are about celebrating our stars during our premier racing period, whilst developing an ongoing narrative for racing fans to follow and engage with,” Carpenter said.

“The leading sporting codes around the world celebrate the best individual performers on their biggest days and there’s no grander stage in Australian racing than the Spring Racing Carnival to recognise and celebrate our elite jockeys and trainers.

Charities include Make A Wish, HeartKids, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Movember Foundation Australia, beyondblue, Cystic Fibrosis Victoria, Seeing Eye Dogs Australia, The Nathan Berry Fund and National Jockeys Trust.

Racing.com Media Release