Perth to increase prize-money by 35 percent for 2018

Perth is to boost its prize-money next year to nearly £1.25 million, a 35 per cent increase on 2017.

The upturn includes a new appearance money scheme across the course's 15 fixtures, at which average prize-money per race will be increased to £11,500 from £8,500, with the hope being that stimulates a rise in field sizes.

Chief executive Hazel Peplinski said: “The step change in prize-money levels for horsemen, which, significantly, is right across the board from our Class 1 races right down to the Class 5 races, has to directly impact the field sizes to be sustained long-term."