PREMIER central west jockey Kody Nestor believes Tuesday's announcement of increases to prize money for country racing is the biggest thing to happen in his time in the sport.

Coming from a rich racing background, Nestor has seen and heard plenty about the sport, and with Tuesday's announcement meaning there is $38 million more being paid out in prize money compared to five years ago it is a big step forward.

But as it has done with trainers since the last boost in funds, the increase in prize money is expected to result in an increase in competition for riders.

"A lot of the talk is about how this will send the Sydney and Hawkesbury horses out to race against the bush horses but that has already happened," Nestor said.

"When you sit down and really think about it, any increase in money is good because it makes things that much more viable for the trainers, the owners, the jockeys, the clubs and even the strappers.

"Every time I ride a winner now, that little bit extra jumps in from the percentage, the same with the trainers. The owners get more for their wins, they get more horses, the fields increase, the turnover increases and the whole industry benefits.

"For so long in the bush we've been promised the world and delivered an atlas. This has been needed for five or six years but it's happened now and I think it's a great thing."

Nestor does upwards of 100,000km per year in his quest to make a living from race riding.

This weekend alone he will compete at Muswellbrook (Friday), Wellington (Saturday), Nowra (Sunday) and Scone (Monday).

"You have to go out of your area to make a quid, there's no two ways about it," he said.

"It's the same for the jockeys down around the provincials and some in the city.

"They have small fields and don't get the opportunities so they have to look elsewhere. If they're linked with a trainer and that trainer is sending horses they do the travel so they can keep that association going.

"Some of us like myself, Greg (Ryan) and Mathew (Cahill) are lucky because we'll pick up rides most places but I do feel sorry for the ones that miss out when these other jockeys come out this way.

"I think for me, having the competition of these other riders coming out from the city and provincial areas helps my riding. You know they're coming out to ride competitive horses and I like to try and mix it with them."