Clifford Park still off the pace despite money lift
Toowoomba Turf Club will continue pushing its case for parity with comparable southeast Queensland provincial race clubs after the latest announcement on prize money increases.
Racing Queensland yesterday released details on an additional $12 million in prize money to be injected annually into the industry.
The increase will deliver an additional $8.6m to thoroughbreds, $3m to greyhounds and $400,000 to harness race, 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 2018.
TTC will receive an increase of $2000 per race to $14,000 for its standard Clifford Park Saturday night meetings.
Racing Queensland CEO Dr Eliot Forbes said the new financial commitment followed the announcement by the Queensland government to commit $70 million to fund non-TAB thoroughbred racing in Queensland over the next four years.
“With thoroughbred non-TAB racing funded by government, Racing Queensland is able to redirect $12 million to prize money increases to commercial TAB racing,” Dr Forbes said.
“Metropolitan premier stakes races will be increased to $70,000 per-race from the current $60,000 while the two Saturday restricted grade races will now both carry minimum stakes of $40,000. Mid-week metropolitan races will also increase to $25,000, excluding maiden races.”
Provincial clubs at the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Ipswich will have all maiden races boosted by $1000 to $15,000.
“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.”
TTC chairman Kent Woodford welcomed the much-needed cash stimulation but remained concerned about Toowoomba’s continuing diminished status amongst southeast Queensland’s major provincial clubs.
Toowoomba’s rival clubs at the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Ipswich still offer $2000 per standard race and $1000 per maiden more than Clifford Park events.
“I welcome any prize money increases that go into the pocket of our industry members,” Woodford said.
“The lift in metropolitan money was especially needed for Queensland racing to continue to prosper.
“But from a Toowoomba point of view I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed we are still not on parity with Ipswich.
“It’s something we have really pitched hard for and its very disappointing it hasn’t eventuated
“I don’t begrudge anyone an increase, but considering what we offer here in Toowoomba, I must be missing something.”