The Scandinavian Challenge will enjoy a significant funding increase in 2018, bringing the 10-race series close to €1 million in prize-money.
Held between June and August, the feature race is the Swedish Derby, which will be run next year for SEK 3 million (approx. €316,000). Entries close for the 101st running of the Classic on Monday, Mar. 13.
The Swedish Oaks receives a 75% increase to bring its value to SEK 1.4 million (approx. €147,500). Further boosts for the Voter and Altamira boosts total prize-money for the series to SEK 9.4 million (approx. €990,000).
Nine races will take place on the all-weather surface at Jagersro Racecourse in Malmo over three different racedays between mid-June and mid-August and a new race, the Bro Park Trial, which is solely for Scandinavian-bred horses, has also been added to the programme. As its title suggests, it will be staged at Europe's newest racecourse, Bro Park, in June.
Dennis Madsen, Svensk Galopp's Head of Racing, hopes that the increase in prize-money will enhance the level of interest from British and Irish owners and trainers. He said, “The Swedish Derby is designed to be a competitive race attracting decent handicappers with a rating of 90-100, providing an exciting opportunity for owners to add a 'Derby' to their portfolio. We were delighted with the level of entries for the inaugural running of the series and we are hoping to attract a similar level when entries close on 13 Mar. There are no supplementary entry stages for the Derby or any of the races in the series, so the value of any horse with a series entry could be enhanced by significantly more than the cost to enter.”
This year sees the 100th running of the Swedish Derby at Jagersro on Sunday, July 16, with a total of 147 horses entered at this stage. Entry fees for all races in the 2018 Scandinavian Challenge will be held at SEK 1,000 (approx. €105).
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