Large Qld prize money increases to start today
RACING: Clifford Park’s racing stocks will receive a significant boost from today when weekly prize money is increased by more than 35% across the board.
The long-awaited money injection will see all Toowoomba Turf Club events raised from $14,000 to $19,000 total prize money per race.
The increase is part of an overall upgrade of Queensland prize-money levels announced yesterday by Racing Queensland.
The new package is the result of an additional $26 million being added by the state government to the Queensland’s thoroughbred prize money pool.
The first prize-money increase of $18 million comes into effect today.
Other additions and increases set to benefit industry members include the introduction of prize money for fifth-placed runners at provincial Queensland — including Toowoomba — meetings and a $400 payment for runners placed sixth to 10th.
Prize money for the Listed Toowoomba Cup will also jump from $100,000 to $150,000.
Country TAB stakes will be raised from $12,000 to $14,500 at venues including Warwick, Gatton, Dalby and Roma.
Standard race stakes at the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Ipswich will increase by 31.25% from $16,000 to $21,000.
Standard Saturday metropolitan race stakes rise from $70,000 to $75,000 with midweeks lifting from $25,000 to $30,000.
Speaking at Clifford Park yesterday where the full Racing Queensland board met as part of its aim to interact closer with regional racing centres, chairman Steve Wilson said the prize-money spike was a welcome boost for racing across Queensland.
Wilson said $12.3 million of the initial distribution had been allocated to provincial and country racing.
“It’s dramatic,” Wilson said of the cash injection.
“It’s the largest single increase in prize money for thoroughbreds in Queensland’s history, both in total dollars and percentage.
“So that’s really exciting. But what we think is equally as exciting is that the tilt of where the money is going is towards industry viability.
“We know that there’s an arms’ race going on between NSW, Victoria and Queensland and we have been dropping behind.
“We went and spoke to the government.
“The industry went and spoke to the government and thankfully the government heard that loud and clear message.
“Full credit to them. They have responded.
“So to be able to come out with an $18 million increase and the prospect of another $8 million on top of that but with a tilt towards industry sustainability is fantastic news.”
Wilson said Toowoomba was recognised as an industry driver with Clifford Park home to Queensland’s largest training centre in horse numbers.
“We are here in Toowoomba and the good news is Toowoomba has got the biggest single increase, up 36%,” Wilson said.
“But we’ve focused on provincial, that’s part of our viability plan.”