Media Release
Date posted:
In a boost to the entire Northern Territory thoroughbred industry, the Thoroughbred Racing NT (TRNT) Board has approved a 10% across-the-board increase to stakemoney levels.
The Board met on Tuesday 27 January 2026 and a proposal was considered to make a doublefigure percentage increase to stakemoney. The Board endorsed the increase, which will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
This latest lift in stakes, along with a number of smaller increases in recent years, means that stakes have increased overall (outside of Carnivals) by some 25% since early 2023.
Chair of TRNT, Ms Nicole Rantanen Reynolds, said: “Due to ongoing financial prudence and sustainability by the TRNT Board and management, we are in a position to make a substantial stakemoney increase from 1 April this year.
“We are acutely aware of the increasing costs for the industry, and the owners and trainers are the ones that bear the impact of these costs. It is hoped that an increase of 10% will go some way towards assisting all those who contribute to the ongoing success of the racing industry in the Territory.”
Some of the effects of the increase to stakemoney are as follows:
• Minimum stakes will increase from $21,000 to $23,000
• Carnival (Alice Springs and Darwin) minimum stakes will increase from $25,000 to$27,500
• Cup Day (Alice Springs and Darwin) minimum stakes will increase from $31,000 to$35,000• Darwin Cup will be run for $220,000, an increase of $20,000
• Palmerston Sprint will be run for $150,000, an increase of $15,000
• Alice Springs Cup will be $120,000, up from $110,000
• Pioneer Sprint will be $110,000, up from $100,000
• Country club minimum stakes will be $25,500, up from $23,000