Racing Victoria has released the framework for its 2012-13 racing calendar which will feature 576 race meetings across the state from 1 August to 31 July.
The annual meeting total represents an increase of six on the current racing season and will be supported by a record $160 million prize money pool - an increase of 13% on 2011-12.
The 576 race meetings will be categorised as follows; 113 metropolitan, 429 country and 34 picnic, with the six new meetings scheduled on a Saturday in country Victoria.
To be held at Moe, Tatura, Kilmore, Pakenham, Seymour and Hamilton these fixtures offset a shift in country programming last season to accommodate the introduction of Cranbourne night racing.
RV General Manager - Racing, Greg Carpenter, said the 2012-13 racing calendar would further cement plans formulated in the industry's Racing To 2020 strategic plan.
“The industry's strategy has been to grow our night racing offering and this will take full effect in the 2012-13 season with Friday night racing programmed every week, excluding Easter, from 28 September to 12 April,” Carpenter said.
“This has provided both host clubs, Moonee Valley and Cranbourne, with the opportunity to expand their premier meeting into two-day carnivals that provide a diverse offering for attendees and punters with day and night racing showcased.
“The Group 1 Manikato Stakes will headline a new Friday night meeting at Moonee Valley on the eve of the Cox Plate, whilst a Friday night meeting at Cranbourne will be the entree to their traditional Sunday afternoon Cup meeting.
“Another major highlight of next season's race dates is the return of Flemington's Turnbull Stakes to a Saturday timeslot after being forced to a Sunday in the past two years by the AFL Grand Final.
“We are also pleased to welcome Yarra Valley, an important and picturesque regional venue, back to the calendar after an extended absence with eight meetings programmed next season.
“We have worked through extensive consultation with the Clubs and key stakeholder groups to develop the 2012-13 racing calendar and we believe we've found the right structure to satisfy the needs of each party whilst delivering a platform for growth and success,” Carpenter added.
Following is a summary of the 2012-13 Victorian racing calendar and the notable changes within;
Cox Plate CarnivalThe highlight of the season will be the introduction of a two-day Cox Plate Carnival at Moonee Valley on Friday night, 26 October 2012 and Saturday afternoon, 27 October 2012.
Underpinning the addition of the Friday night meeting are the following race programming changes;
• The Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) moves from Friday night, 28 September 2012 to 26 October night meeting and increases to $750,000 in prize money The Group 2 Moir Stakes (1200m) moves from Cox Plate Day to headline the 28 September night meeting The Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) moves from Cox Plate Day to 26 October night meeting and changes to Weight-For-Age The Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) moves from Saturday, 25 August 2012 to 26 October night meeting
Spring Racing Carnival
With the AFL Grand Final reverting to its traditional timeslot on Saturday, 29 September 2012, the following changes have been made to programming for the Spring Racing Carnival;
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes meeting at Caulfield moves to Sunday, 30 September 2012 The Turnbull Stakes meeting at Flemington returns to a Saturday on 6 October 2012
The Carnival will again commence on Underwood Stakes Day, Saturday, 22 September 2012 at Caulfield and continue through to the Ballarat Cup meeting on Sunday, 26 November 2012.
Melbourne Festival of Racing
The programming of feature meetings remains unchanged for RV's late summer / early autumn showpiece after a major restructure was implemented in 2011.
Night Racing
A total of 33 night meetings have been programmed during the 2012-13 season commencing at Moonee Valley on Friday, 28 September and concluding at Cranbourne on Friday, 12 April.
Moonee Valley will again host 18 Friday night meetings, whilst Cranbourne will host 15 night meetings spread across 11 Fridays, three Saturdays in December and Easter Thursday.
Country Cups
Upon request of the host Clubs, the following changes and enhancements have been made to the programming of Country Cup meetings during the 2012-13 season;
Cranbourne will expand to a two-day Cup Carnival with a new meeting on Friday night, 12 October 2012 supporting the traditional Cup meeting on Sunday, 14 October 2012. The Mildura Cup
Carnival moves from May to August effective from the 2012-13 season meaning the Club will host two Carnivals in this calendar year. In addition, the two-day Carnival reverts to a Friday-Sunday format on 24 and 26 August 2012.The Terang Cup reverts from October to a summer timeslot on Sunday, 3 February 2013. The Hamilton Cup moves from April to a spring timeslot on Sunday, 28 October 2012 and from a two-day carnival to one-day meeting.
Yarra Valley
Racing will be conducted at Yarra Valley for the first time since December 2010 once reconstruction works are completed this year and the track has consolidated appropriately.
Eight meetings have been programmed at the inner regional track during the 2012-13 season with the Yarra Valley Cup to return on Sunday, 17 March 2013.
Stand Alone Saturday
The Yalumba Golden Mile Raceday has been programmed at Bendigo on Saturday, 16 March 2013 and remains the state's sole stand alone Saturday metropolitan meeting in country Victoria.
The 2013 Golden Mile Raceday will carry full Saturday metropolitan status meaning that minimum funding will be to the same level as a Melbourne meeting in the same timeslot.
Country Saturdays
Following consultation with key stakeholders, RV is adding six Saturday country meetings during the winter period to provide continuity of programming. The new meetings are;
• 4 August 2012 - Moe 18 August 2012 - Tatura 1 June 2013 - Kilmore 15 June 2013 - Pakenham 6 July 2013 - Seymour 27 July 2013 - Hamilton
Synthetic Racing
A total of 30 meetings - down from 32 this season - have been programmed on the Geelong Synthetic track during the 2012-13 season with an earlier 7 September 2012 finish this year.
The additional two meetings on 17 August 2012 and 12 July 2013 have been programmed on the Geelong turf track during the winter months.
Geelong Synthetic will again serve as a transfer venue during winter months meaning it is likely to host more than its 30 programmed meetings.
Thursday Twilights
The continuation of Thursday twilight race meetings in the first quarter of 2013 will be determined following an extensive review of the initial three month trial which concludes next week.
Meetings in this timeslot in January-March 2013 have been programmed in close proximity to Melbourne so they can be staged as a day or twilight fixture pending the outcome of the review.
