Queen’s Plate now carries prize money of R1.5 million

– Prize money for the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate has been given a 50% boost and the Grade 1 race over 1600m at Kenilworth on 7 January will now be worth R1.5 million.

“As an owner and breeder I was very happy to hear about the substantial amount of money being put into the stakes pot,” said Gaynor Rupert, one of South African racing's doyennes, and the driving force behind the Queen's Plate. “If we are going to attract more owners to the sport of racing this is the best and simplest way to do it,” said.

It is yet another milestone in the history of this marquee race which was first run back in 1861 for a prize of 500 sovereigns and a silver plate donated by Queen Victoria.

“We, as the Racing Association, believe a race of the calibre of the Queen's Plate deserves a substantial boost with regards to the stake offered and hopefully in time to come we can increase it further,” said Larry Wainstein, CEO of the Racing Association.

In another change the Queen's Plate “festival” will be run over two days with the Cartier Sceptre Stakes (Grade 2) being run at a meeting on Friday 6 January.

Last year's Queen's Plate was won by Legal Eagle and helped cement his status as the Horse Of The Year.