Riverina participants will have one million reasons to find the right horse for an exciting new race series in NSW.
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Leeton, Young and Wagga will all hold heats of the NSW $1 Million Pace, which culminates at Menangle next May.
Heats, restricted to horses trained in the Riverina, will be run at the three venues on May 8, 12 and 15 respectively before Wagga hosts the region's qualifier on May 27.
From there the top two go through to the $1 million feature race.
Consolations worth $50,000 and $20,000 will also be run.
To be eligible horses must be four-year-old or older, bred in Australia with a national rating of up to 70.
Preferences are for those rated above a 60.
Horses must be trained, based on a processed stable return, by a licensed NSW trainer from February 2020.
Any horses transferred from interstate are required to have five starts in NSW from next February to be eligible.
Wagga chief executive Graeme White believes it is great news for the industry.
"To have the potential winner of a $1 million final race in a heat and quarter final at Wagga is massive for the industry," White said.
"This level of prize money is unprecedented for the class of horse this race will cater for plus it is based solely for NSW trainers."
It will continue a big period for the club who will host the first group one races in the region, in any code, next March.
White believes the series is well timed with the club's new track.
Young president David Micallef was also thrilled to be part of the new initiative.
"It's a very good thing to be apart of," Micallef said.
"I think it's good the Riverina horses have to race each other and it gives you the opportunity to race in your area before you have to worry about meeting others."
Horses are only eligible to compete in one heat, meaning 30 from across the Riverina will be able to take part.
Heats are worth $10,000 with the regional qualifiers $25,000.
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