Prizemoney for the Narrandera Cup is set to increase after the racing season kicked off with a successful LW Peacock Memorial meeting at the Narrandera Racecourse on Saturday.

The Narrandera Cup — which will be held on Sunday July 19 — is programmed with eight races with seven of them with prizes of $24,000.

The Cup itself is $34,000 this year, up from $32,000 last time.

A crowd gathered for the first time in 22 months at the course on Saturday at the Memorial meet.

Racing Manager Michael Bailey said the crowd made a vast difference and could expect some more interstate trainers for the Cup in July.

“The crowd made a hell of a difference,” Bailey told the Argus.

“Last year we had four meetings and no crowds, but on the weekend it was good racing and good wagering.

“In the last race in particular a Victorian horse called En Aval went to a local trainer Mitchell Beer from Albury.

“It was knocked around at the start, but it went to the outside barrier and rocketed home, with a good start it could have had a top finish.

“Depending on the COVID situation, Victorians can come to the Cup meeting for the prizemoney.

“A lot of meetings are 35 per cent Victorian, 15 per cent from the ACT and the rest from NSW.

“I’m sure we’ll have Victorians chasing the $34,000.”

Overall, Bailey said the return of the races was a success.

“When you haven’t raced for eight or nine months we didn’t really have any problems, the racing was good and the last race was close, within about two or three feet of each other,” he said.

“With the work the committee put into the track, plus the new watering system we had put in last year, the ground has never looked better.

“It was definitely a good race day for some of those to learn and get prepared for the Narrandera Cup.”

The TC Lee Memorial race meeting is also being held on August 14 at Narrandera.