Boosts to Country, Provincial Racing

Country and provincial racing in New South Wales, Australia will enjoy a prize money boost of A$21 million from July 2016 as part of the state's wagering tax parity announced last week (click here). The increases, which account for more than 60% of the proceeds from the second and third years of parity, will see prize money for country races climb to approximately A$69 million per year, an increase of 120% since 2011. Racing NSW will also introduce Showcase Country Race Meetings and from next July, will commit A$1 million per year to a new traineeship and apprenticeship scheme for youth in regional New South Wales. Racing NSW has also committed about A$50 million–from accumulated race field fees–to capital works at country and provincial tracks.

“On behalf of the Baird Government I am delighted to announce that from 2016/17, minimum prize money for Country TAB meetings in NSW will be increased by A$5,000, or 33%, to A$20,000 per race,” said Troy Grant, Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing. “In addition, minimum prize money for Provincial meetings will be increased by A$5,000 to A$27,000, a rise of 23% per race. Further, racing in Country NSW will benefit by the introduction of Country Showcase Meetings to be staged throughout the state. Approximately 40 meetings each year will be upgraded to carry premium prize money of A$30,000 per race.”

Racing NSW Chairman John Messara added, “While our first year's receipts from parity are earmarked to fund The Championships and Highway races, we are pleased to

announce this significant rise in Country TAB and Provincial prize money from July 2016. Country prize money of A$20,000 per TAB race along with the new Showcase meetings make

for the biggest-ever injection of prize money into Country racing.”

“On behalf of the Board of Racing NSW, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Premier Mike Baird and our Racing Minister and Deputy Premier, Troy Grant, for embracing parity and placing Australia's largest racing jurisdiction on a level playing field with Victoria over the next few years,” Messara added. “Wagering tax parity is vital for the sustainability of racing in this state. The challenge is now to ensure NSW has a competitive, vibrant and innovative racing industry.”