SA Trots -Industry Release - SA Country Cup Series receives boost

SA COUNTRY CUP SERIES RECEIVES BOOST
The SA Country Cup Series is set to receive a boost, with clubs adding prizemoney to a range of races on their respective programs.
Commencing on Sunday March 2 and culminating on Saturday April 12 the SA Country Cup Series is designed to celebrate regional venues and showcase local talent statewide.

•Sunday March 2 – KADINA PACING CUP (AT PORT PIRIE)
•Sunday March 9 – VICTOR HARBOR PACING CUP
•Saturday March 15 – MOUNT GAMBIER PACING CUP
•Monday March 24 – GAWLER PACING CUP
•Monday March 31 – KAPUNDA PACING CUP
•Saturday April 5 – STRATHALBYN PACING CUP (AT GDP)
•Saturday April 12 – PORT PIRIE PACING CUP

Each club involved has collaborated with HRSA to tailor a prizemoney offering that is accommodating to their race program. These additions are as follows:

VICTOR HARBOR HRC – Increasing 3 support races from $4,500 to $6,999 ($7,500 total)
MOUNT GAMBIER HRC – Contributing $8,000 to Mount Gambier Gold Cup (NR 52 to 64 not MG Pacing Cup)
GAWLER HRC – Contributing $3,000 to the Pacers Cup and $2,000 to the Trotters Cup ($5,000 total)
KAPUNDA HRC – Contributing $2,000 to the Pacers Cup and $3,000 to the Trotters Cup ($5,000 total)
STRATHALBYN HRC – Contributing $10,000 to Pacers Cup, $11,000 to Trotters Cup, plus contributing $3,000 to another 4 races, contributing $5,500 to another 2 races, meaning $9,999 purse for 6 support races) ($44,000 total)

On behalf of the local industry HRSA wishes to thank all regional clubs for their generous support of this series. The Strathalbyn Cup meeting, with a significant additional $44,000 will make this one of the richest meetings on the calendar outside of Cups Finals and Southern Cross Finals.
This is a further show of support towards connections and participants racing in SA, and an additional incentive to be part of such a series.
Please see below for conditions and further information.

ELIGIBILITY
*No Driver Concessions. *No Mares Concessions.
*For SA Trained Horses only.
*To be eligible horses must be in the stable of an SA trainer for a minimum of 14 days before any qualifying race and a minimum of 28 days before the finals.
*For the purpose of this series, SA Trained shall include horses trained in a close b order community provided the trainer has presented runners for at least 7 Mount Gambier Race meetings during the 2024 calendar year.

*Field selection for all qualifying races will be determined in the following order:

1) The number of wins in races with a maximum rating of 75 or higher in the last 10 starts (excluding claiming/age/lifetime win restricted races) (60 or higher for trotters).

2) The number of placings (seconds & thirds) in races with a maximum rating of 75 or higher in the last 10 starts (excluding claiming/age/lifetime win restricted races) (60 or higher for trotters). [Horses with the same number of wins & placings will be separated by the number of second placings. If still tied, dollars last 8 starts in all races will be used]

3) If there are still positions available, a manual field selection approach will be adopted for the remaining spots.

*Field selection for each Final will be determined by points accrued throughout the qualifying races, however preference in each Final will be given to horses that have accepted for 2 or more qualifying races.
*In each qualifying race points shall be earned as follows; 1st – 10, 2nd – 5, 3rd – 3, 4th – 2, 5th to last – 1.
*In the event horses accrue the same points, field selection will be determined by the horse accumulating the greatest prizemoney in the qualifying races.
*In the event horses accrue the same points & the identical prizemoney, field selection will be determined through ballot conducted by HRSA officers.

Races

Pacing Cup Qualifying Races

All Races up to 120
•Sunday March 2 – KADINA PACING CUP (AT PORT PIRIE) $9,999 2530m MS PBD/GNR
•Sunday March 9 – VICTOR HARBOR PACING CUP $9,999 2160m MS RBD
•Saturday March 15 – MOUNT GAMBIER PACING CUP $9,999 2190m MS PBD/NR
•Monday March 24 – GAWLER PACING CUP $13,000 2550m SS Discretionary RBD
•Monday March 31 – KAPUNDA PACING CUP $12,000 2610m MS RBD
•Saturday April 5 – STRATHALBYN PACING CUP (AT GDP) $20,000 2230m MS PBD/GNR

Pacing Cup Final
•Saturday April 12 – PORT PIRIE PACING CUP $25,000 2530m MS RBD

Trotters Cup Qualifying Races

All Races NR 56 OR BETTER

•Sunday March 2 – KADINA TROTTERS CUP (AT PORT PIRIE) $9,000 2530m SS Discretionary RBD
•Sunday March 9 – VICTOR HARBOR TROTTERS CUP $9,000 2160m MS PBD/NR
•Saturday March 15 – MOUNT GAMBIER TROTTERS CUP $9,000 2580m SS Discretionary RBD
•Monday March 24 – GAWLER TROTTERS CUP $11,000 2550m SS Discretionary RBD
•Monday March 31 – KAPUNDA TROTTERS CUP $12,000 2610m SS Discretionary RBD
•Saturday April 5 – STRATHALBYN TROTTERS CUP (AT GDP) $20,000 2230m SS Discretionary RBD

Trotters Cup Final
•Saturday April 12 – PORT PIRIE TROTTERS CUP $20,000 2530m SS Discretionary RBD