Thoroughbred Racing SA has announced a $240,000 increase in the prize money available across the Adelaide racing carnival by bosting minimum prize money for all 24 races to $100,000.

The total prize money across the carnivals’ three Group One days is now $4.15 million.

The G1 Darley Goodwood and G1 UBET SA Derby will each be run for $500,000 while the G1 UBET Classic and G1 Schweppes Oaks offer prize money of $400,000 each.

TRSA CEO Jim Watters said the prize money boost was introduced to build on the success and growth of the UBET Adelaide Racing Carnival and further reward owners and trainers who race in South Australia.

“We must maintain and grow our racing carnival on the national racing landscape,” Watters said. “We are always looking to enhance the appeal of racing in South Australia and increasing minimum prizemoney for the non-premier races further encourages and rewards local participants while also attracting interstate participation.”

The Adelaide carnival will for the first time feature three “Series Finals” to be held on SA Derby Day.

The Provincial Super Series has been held during the carnival for several years and has been joined by the SA Sprint Series Final (1100m) and Autumn Series Final (1400m).

Heats of the three series will be run across South Australia with horses entered in the $100,000 Finals balloted in order of points accrued in the heats.

“The Series Finals provide an exciting opportunity for horses who in the main may have been competing at provincial race meetings, to compete for prize money equivalent to premier racing,” Watters said.

“Heats for these events are held across many provincial and country race tracks as well as Morphettville and Oakbank. As a result, local participants gain a greater opportunity to compete for the prize money on offer.”