State boost for country

IN a massive boost for the Queensland racing industry, the Labor Government has pledged $70 million for Queensland country racing over the next four years if it is re-elected this month.

The announcement follows an economic impact study commissioned by Racing Queensland that showed racing contributed $1.2 billion annually to the state’s economy.

“This unprecedented $70 million country racing package will deliver increased certainty for more than 100 non-TAB racing clubs and the industry’s 16,700 participants in regional Queensland,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Queensland hosts more ‘non-TAB’ or Country races than any other state and its funding has long been a point of contention in the industry.

This package offsets the cost of staging that huge number of non-TAB meetings.

Stan Johnston, a champion of country racing who races horses all over the state, said the pledge was a win.

“This is exactly what we have asked for,” Johnston said.