MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE THOROUGHBRED RACING SA - THURS 28TH JULY

South Australia's first half-million dollar race will headline a NEW South Australian Racing Carnival at the state's premier racing facility at Morphettville over three action-filled weekends.

The 2012 Carnival will feature four Group 1 races, culminating wth Super Saturday on May 12th which features the Group 1 Goodwood with $500,000 in prizemoney.

Jim Watters, Chief Executive of Thoroughbred Racing SA, said the Carnival would give South Australian racing the chance to shine on the national stage.

"We identified this three week window in the Australian racing calendar and have worked to bring together the majority of our biggest and best races into one exciting Carnival," he said.

"The eyes of the nation will be on South Australian racing for that period and we believe that will generae great interset, excitement and investment from all over Australia, with total prizemoney of $3.5M over the three days."

Highlights of the 2012 Carnival include:

-Ladies Day (April 28th)with the Grou 1 sporting Bet Classic ($400,000) and Group 1 Schweepes Australasian Oaks($400,000)plus the Queen of the South(Group 2);               

- Derby Day (May 5th) with the Group 1 SA Derby ($450,000),two listed races and the $1000,000 Provincial Super Series Final; and

-Super Saturday(May 12th) with the Group 1 Distinctive Homes Goodwood ($500,000), three Group 3 races and four Listed races with minium stakes of $100,000.

Input was sought from local and interstate trainers on the timing of the Carnival.

Brenton Wilkinson, SAJC Chief Executive Officer, said the Carnival would be an ideal lead up to the Adelaide Cup when the Cup is moved from March to May.

"Obviously, our preference- andthat of Thoroughbred Racing SA- would be to have the Adelaide Cup as the culmination of that Carnival, and we will continue to work towards that outcome," he said.

"With the support of trainers both locally and interstate, we're extremely confident the Autumn Carnival will be a hugh success."

Thoroughbred Racing SA has also announced an increase of $548,000 in prizemoney for standard metropolitan Saturday race meetings.

The increase, which takes effect from August 1st, will mean that prizemoney for current $32,000 races will be increased to $34,000 while 68+ Rating races will increase from the current $32,000 to $40,000.

"Today's increase follows significant growth in prizemoney with metropolitan stakes increasing by 50% across all categoies, Group and Listed prizemoney increasing by 24% and all other classes up by 66% over the last three years," Mr Watters said.

"Country, Provincial and Mid Week Metropolitian races have also seen a significant prizemoney increase since 2007 of 79%.