Racing giant’s strike relief
LEADING thoroughbred operation Aquis has thrown its support behind local trainers by declaring they will pay a bonus for Queenslanders who want race a horse at Canterbury and Randwick in Sydney this week.
Queensland’s racing participants will go on strike on Cox Plate day on Saturday in retaliation to the State Government’s decision to not put any of an estimated $70 million to be generated by the new Point of Consumption tax this year back into prizemoney.
Aquis, along with Racing NSW, have announced a minimum payment of $1000 for all starters not finishing in the first 10 at Canterbury on Friday and Randwick on Saturday.
Aquis will fund the initiative for all Queensland-based trainers who qualify.
Aquis CEO Shane McGrath said the company was supporting the initiative to help Queensland trainers, breeders, owners and jockeys through the planned strike action.
“We’re pleased to be able to partner with Racing NSW and provide this support which we hope will be taken up by Queensland participants racing for the excellent prizemoney in Sydney,” he said.
“We appreciate these are difficult times for everyone in the Queensland industry and want to do our bit to ensure people in the industry can continue to earn a living while the situation is being resolved.”
“By guaranteeing some prizemoney for all Queensland runners we hope to give local trainers and owners the confidence to head and south and know that they will be coming home with something.”
The new incentive means horses finishing seventh to 10th will receive the standard $3500 in unplaced prizemoney for Saturday meetings and $1500 for Friday nights.
WE APPRECIATE THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES FOR EVERYONE IN THE QUEENSLAND INDUSTRY AND WANT TO DO OUR BIT TO ENSURE PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY CAN CONTINUE TO EARN A LIVING
AQUIS’ SHANE McGRATH (BELOW)
Runners placed 11th and beyond will receive $1000, with Queensland-registered runners being paid by Aquis.
Nominations for both meetings were extended by one hour yesterday to allow Queensland-based trainers to enter a horse for a race.
The payments are in addition to the Australian Turf Club’s $500 travel rebates for country and interstate trainers who have a horse racing both on Friday and Saturday.