ORGANISERS are betting on the lure of quality fields and about $90,000 in prizemoney to draw a bumper crowd to the Jim Jackson Racecourse when gates fly open for the 2015 Katherine Cup on August 8.
After a disappointing number of nominations for the 2014 event, Katherine Turf Club has changed the date from its traditional running in May to coincide with the Darwin Cup later in the year.
KTC president Duane Barclay told the Katherine Times the committee had taken what it hoped would be a successful punt by swapping dates in order to attract jockeys and trainers returning to the southern and eastern states after the Darwin carnival.
“It’s basically after the Darwin Cup, so we can get the horses down here to run,” he said.
“We’ve taken a gamble and hope it will pay off and attract extra people to town for the event.”
Mr Barclay said the weather would be “spot on” in August and allow racegoers to enjoy a day trackside while catching up with friends.
The event will feature a six-race program, with the showcase race, the Katherine Cup, offering $20,000 in prizemoney alone.
The on-course action will begin on the day with a stockhorse race, and Mr Barclay said he believed the prizemoney would ensure the barriers would be near capacity.
“The sponsors have committed again and are putting up the money, so they want to see full fields,” he said.
If the August scheduling fails to live up to expectations, Mr Barclay said the committee would look at another date.
“If it works, we’ll stick with it,” he said.
