Cash splash lifts racing

Prizemoney boost ‘sensational’ for region

UPWARDS of $300,000 will be injected straight into racing at Cairns’ Cannon Park, with prizemoney across the Cairns Cup Carnival set to increase.

Racing Queensland yesterday announced an additional $12 million in prizemoney would be injected annually into the industry in a move that will provide a major boost to all stakeholders.

The Cairns Jockey Club will be one of many clubs in Queensland to benefit, with standard stakes boosted by $2000 per race and $527,000 injected into feature carnivals from Rockhampton to Cairns.

CJC general manager John Cameron described the increase in prizemoney as “sensational” for Far North racing.

“Every race that we run at the club has now gone up by $2000 per race,” Cameron said.

“We have got six-race cards that will now go out to seven races.

“We will now be running a seven-race TAB card for races of $12, 000 or $14, 000; that is a huge step up when you compare it to a couple of years ago.

“It is huge for Cairns, with over $300,000 coming into racing and turns our annual carnival into a massive carnival.”

The $12 million increase from Racing Queensland will deliver an additional $8.6 million to thoroughbred, $3 million to greyhound and $400k to harness, which comes on top of the $3.2 million announced six months ago.

The increases will take effect on a pro-rata basis from February 1 and will provide immediate benefits to industry participants.

Racing Queensland CEO Dr Eliot Forbes said they followed the announcement by the Queensland Government to commit $70 million to fund non-TAB thoroughbred racing in Queensland as a community service obligation over the next four years.

“Regional provincial clubs will have standard stakes boosted by $2000 per race and northern feature carnivals will be increased by a total of $527,000, to be spread across carnivals from Rockhampton to Cairns,” Forbes said.

Overall, the additional money represents a 16.6 per cent increase to metropolitan premier stake races while regional TAB races will see a 16-20 per cent increase from their current stakes.

“Today’s prizemoney announcement is another step forward in delivering on Racing Queensland’s commercial plan to boost confidence and continue to bring meaningful benefits to industry participants,” Forbes said.