Prize money boost for country Championship

The finals of the NSW Country and Provincial Championships have each received a prize money boost of $100,000.

Both finals, to be run at Randwick in April, will be worth $400,000.

Racing NSW announced the increases on Monday, with the qualifying races in the Country series also boosted by $5000 to $20,000.

"These increase are further good news for the owners of country-trained horses following the introduction of Highway races last month," Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said.

The first of seven 1400m-qualifying races of the 2016 Country Championships series is on February 20 at Goulburn.

The eighth and final race is a wild card at Muswellbrook on March 27 giving horses entered in the other heats which failed to run first or second a chance to earn a start at Randwick.