Prizemoney down to 10th place offers a fairer deal for battling trainers
TOWNSVILLE Turf Club president Malcolm Petrofski has described a much- needed injection of prizemoney as a huge win for the sport’s country battlers, backing it to attract more people to the industry.
The state’s racing community went on strike on Saturday in protest of a lack of prizemoney, which had the desired effect, with an extra $ 18 million to be injected from today, and a further $ 8 million in six months.
The deal is ongoing, meaning $ 26 million will be distributed by Racing Queensland ( RQ) into the industry annually.
As part of the new prizemoney distribution, standard Townsville race pools will increase from $ 14,000 to $ 16,500, prizemoney will be introduced for fifth- placed runner and sixth to 10th will be awarded a $ 400 payment.
Townsville Cup prizemoney will also rise significantly from $ 101,500 to $ 150,000 while Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton will alternate hosting a “Northern Provincial Showcase” meeting once a month, where $ 19,000 will be up for grabs in each race.
“I think it’s a pretty fair outcome, it’s spread the money right across the industry,” Petrofski said. “Paying everyone down to 10th place will keep a lot of people in the industry.
“If it’s just for first to fourth, the trainers of the good horses get all the money and the whole industry doesn’t get a fair share.
“The showcase meetings will also give trainers who don’t want to travel a crack at a good cheques at his local track.
“A lot of it ( funding) has gone to the country and it’s going to a lot of participants, not just the select top tier.”
The increase in Townsville Cup prizemoney in particular is likely to ensure it attracts more top quality runners from stables outside the city.
It will also make it more viable for local trainers to nominate their runners at meetings at other North Queensland tracks. “People in North Queesland have to travel. They’re racing in Cairns ( yesterday). People who go up there and finish worse than fourth can now at least pay for fuel,” Petrofski said.
Petrofski also confirmed the two $ 30,000 Pallarenda Stakes two- year- old races postponed on Saturday will be part of the Remembrance Day meeting on November 11.
“There was a seven- race program that day anyway, so it will become nine,” he said.
“We’re trying to get away from midweek ( meetings) and slot into a Sunday.”