Racing NSW today announced the largest prizemoney increases per race in the history of NSW racing. The unprecedented increases follow Racing NSW's success in the High Court decision over the validity of the Race Fields Legislation and the fee charged by Racing NSW.
As a result Racing NSW announced the following significant increases commence on 1 July 2012:
- Country racing will receive a massive boost with a 50% increase in prizemoney with every TAB race meeting increasing from $10,000 to $15,000 per race;
- Metropolitan Saturday race meeting prizemoney increases by 21% from $70,000 to $85,000 per race;
- Metropolitan midweek race meeting prizemoney increases by 30% from $27,000 to $35,000 per race;
- Provincial race meeting prizemoney increases by between 42% and 46% from $16,000 per race (and $14,000 per Saturday race) to $22,000 per race;
- Country SKY2 race meeting prizemoney will increase by 60% to $8,000 per race;
- Country non-TAB race meeting prizemoney will increase by 71% to $6,000 per race;
- Licensed stablehands will receive 1.5% of total prizemoney;
- Prizemoney will be paid to tenth place.
In addition to those prizemoney increases:
- Racing NSW has utilised a significant amount of the fees collected to maintain the existing minimum prizemoney levels to date.
- A major portion of the remaining fees collected will be used to upgrade country racetracks, training facilities and infrastructure.
In making the announcement today, Racing NSW Chairman John Messara said the priority was to make all sectors of NSW racing viable and to secure the future for all of its 50,000 participants.
"We are determined to see participants across all sectors of the industry benefit and receive a fair return for their labor or financial investment whether as an owner, trainer, jockey or strapper. The flow-on effect to service providers such as vets, float drivers, farriers and feed merchants will also be substantial," said Mr. Messara.
"Racing NSW fully appreciates the importance of Country Racing as an integral part of the economic and social fabric of rural communities. Rises in training costs over the last decade have made ownership in country regions non-viable and there was a need for a major upward adjustment to prizemoney. Importantly, country racing provides a platform on which much of the industry is built.
"While these prizemoney adjustments will place NSW in a most competitive position against all Western Racing jurisdictions, we will be aiming for further increases to prizemoney including the Group and Listed category, subject to success in other revenue generating initiatives which are currently underway."
Racing NSW said that the new funding was being distributed in order to benefit the largest number of people possible.
"In a first for Australian racing, licensed stablehands will now get a cut of the prizemoney justly rewarding them for their efforts in the success of their stable."
Also funds would be used to acquire additional drug testing equipment for the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL).