Date set for stellar Cup meeting

EARLIER this season HRSA announced a standalone SA Cup in the Spring to complement the existing SA Country Cups Series in the Autumn.

Today, all major details of this new-look SA Cup meeting are released, with Globe Derby Park to host SA Cup Night on Saturday, October 28.

The following feature races above $15,000 have been programmed:

$60,000 SA Pacing Cup Final (2645m)

$40,000 SA Trotters Cup Final (2645m)

$30,000 SA Derby Final (2230m)

$25,000 2YO Golden Nursery Final (1800m) – standard Golden Nursery eligibility conditions apply

All of the above races will be heats into finals events, with heats contested at Globe Derby on Friday October 20.

Furthermore, there will be a selection of ‘Win And You’re In!’ races granting the winner of each event automatic entry to the respective SA Cup Final. These races are as follows:

Pacing Cup:

• Minor Derby (Globe Derby) – Saturday September 23

• Kadina Pacing Cup (Port Pirie) – Saturday October 7

Trotters Cup:

• Gramel Trotters Cup (Globe Derby) – Saturday September 23

• Kadina Trotters Cup (Port Pirie) – Saturday October 7

The 2023 SA Cup meeting will carry a total prizemoney purse in excess of $200,000. This promises not only to be a flagbearer event, but to also complement the SA Country Cups Series in the Autumn (culminating in the Final at Port Pirie) which currently carries $130,000 in feature prizemoney.

HRSA CEO Dean Elliott elaborates on some key components of this concept “A rejuvenation of the SA Cup to late October at a time of year when racing is front of mind, and our horse population is at its highest, makes a lot of sense.

“The local industry has seen the benefits derived from the SA Country Cups Series, which gives HRSA much confidence that now is the right time to reimagine and refresh this race meeting. Increasing national relevance and competitiveness is a major goal of ours, and the SA Cup will be able to help achieve this by shining a light nationally on harness racing in the state.

“The depth of our current fast-class ranks is steadily growing and deserving of the opportunity to have a feature race of this ilk on the calendar. Likewise, we welcome any interstate visitors willing to travel and participate in what promises to be a great spectacle.

“Our team has already mapped out a week of events leading up to October 28 which should add some vibrancy and a South Australian flavour to the Cup.”

HRSA wish to thank everyone for the overwhelmingly positive messages it has received on the back of this week’s news.

The aim of these announcements is to further support all segments of the industry; to drive growth, and an added sense of pride. With the current advances being made, HRSA hopes to ignite further participation and elevate SA’s national relevance and competitiveness. This is our opportunity to unite and build!

• HRSA Media