There have been several major announcements in recent weeks regarding the Port Macquarie race track.

Two of the largest meets the Port Macquarie Cup and the Prelude are just around the corner.

In a big boon for the area, another major race meet has been added to the calendar targeted solely at the local contingent of trainers and their gallopers.

One of seven heats of the new Country Championships will take place at Port Macquarie in March worth a staggering $100,000 prize money.

It will give the Mid-North Coast trainers a much-needed bite at a decent prize pool with the area's pinnacle event, the Port Macquarie Cup, often attracting classy metropolitan trainers and horses.

And with the Port Cup in mind, the big race is just 16 days away.

CEO of Port Macquarie Race Club, Michael Bowman said it was gearing up to be another great local racing weekend.

Once again the prize money for the main race has shot back up to $100,000 after previously being reduced to $80,000.

Bowman said he was happy to again be able to offer a larger purse.

"A couple of years ago the club went through a bit of a bad patch," he said.

"But we've consolidated and been able to come back from that.

"In the past we've attracted representatives from the metro areas from the north and south and hopefully the prize money on offer will make more sit up and take notice."

In even more good news for the club it has recently been announced that it will be the benefactor of $3.7 million in funding.

Bowman said the money would go toward refurbishment of the sand track, redoing the surface of the main track and improving drainage.

"We haven't had any major work done on our track since 1968 when it was opened," he said.

"It will mean we'll have an even consistency across the track and in times of poor weather we'll have improved conditions.

"It means more horses and more turnover and it will spark more interest in racing.

"We will be able to provide the facilities that hopefully will make people want to come to the track.

"We'll see how it all plays out.

"It will take lots of planning."

Bowman said there was no start date as yet for work but admitted some race meets may be affected.

"Ideally we will work around Port Cup dates but some may need to be transferred," he said.