What about Toowoomba?

Turf club to question prizemoney snub

BEWILDERED Toowoomba Turf Club management will seek an explanation from Racing Queensland officials on last Friday’s increased prizemoney announcement that has left Clifford Park racing out in the cold.

Racing Queensland announced plans to increase prizemoney by $3.2 million in the budget for the 2017-18 season starting on August 1.

The injection will be distributed across the three racing codes, with thoroughbreds receiving the bulk.

Big winners are provincial one clubs at the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Ipswich.

Their prizemoney will rise from $14,000 to $16,000 per race, excluding maidens.

But in a decision which has puzzled Toowoomba Turf Club chairman Kent Woodford, Clifford Park will receive no added funding, with its Saturday night provincial two meetings anchored on $12,000 per race.

The announcement follows last year’s prizemoney cuts which had the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Ipswich clubs cut from $16,000 to $14,000 per race, and Toowoomba from $14,000 to $12,000.

Toowoomba Turf Club chairman Kent Woodford plans to approach RQ after meeting with club officials over the snub of Toowoomba’s thriving racing industry.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with this after only finding out late (Friday) about the announcement,” Woodford said.

“To find this out (Friday) and discover Toowoomba is not included in the mix is very disappointing to the say the least.

“Any prizemoney increase for the industry is good news, but how can three provincial race clubs be part of it and not the fourth one – being us?

“For all we provide for the Queensland racing industry it is hard to fathom how we are not on the same level as at least Ipswich.

“We have the second largest training centre in the state behind Eagle Farm and successfully support Brisbane racing in good numbers.

“We will discuss this at a club level and formalise an approach to Racing Queensland which can hopefully explain its reasoning.”