SINGAPORE,  23 Jun 2009

To encourage the importation of stayers into Singapore, the Singapore Turf Club (SNTC) will from next month introduce a series of “mini” feature races called Classic Stakes.

Six such races, worth S$150,000 each, will be run per year with three to be held for the remainder of the 2009 season, SNTC said in a statement today.

The purpose behind the initiative is to hopefully build up a strong band of stayers in Singapore that will eventually provide competitive racing at the highest level.

The new “mini” feature races will be conducted over distances varying between 1800m and 2200m. They will be run under condition weights and trophies will be presented to winning owners, trainers and jockeys.

These races will be guaranteed to be staged provided that four or more runners are declared on acceptance day and that no more than 70% of the runners declared on acceptance are from any one trainer.

In line with the “mini” feature races, races over 1800m or further will also be run provided there are four or more runners declared on acceptance day and that no more than 70% of the runners declared on acceptance day are from any one trainer.