SYDNEY (AFP) – Sydney’s racing flagship The Everest boosted its prize money yesterday to AUD20 million, becoming the world’s second-richest thoroughbred race behind only the Saudi Cup.
The annual October meeting at Royal Randwick will also see a new AUD5 million King Charles III Stakes to be run on the same day after winning endorsement from the British monarch. “The King Charles III Stakes creates a new level of excitement for the Sydney Everest Carnival with a feature open age mile (1,600 metres) race boosting an already mouth-watering Everest Day meeting,” Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding said in a statement.
“At AUD20 million of prize-money The Everest is now the second richest race in the world and the richest race on turf.” The Everest – which is raced over 1,200 metres and had a previous purse of AUD15 million – has now surpassed the Pegasus World Cup, also on dirt, in the United States.
Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter V’landys told the Sydney Morning Herald that King Charles III personally endorsed having the new Group I race named in his honour.
