Racing Queensland’s $500 ‘In Foal’ rebate initiative for standardbred mares will return in the 2020/21 Standardbred Breeding Season (1 August 2020 to 31 January 2021) to help support breeders with the financial impacts of COVID-19.
First introduced in 2018 to assist breeders with the impacts of the drought, the ‘In Foal’ rebate can be claimed for up to six mares per breeder as an industry response to the rising cost of feed and agistment and, more recently, the financial impacts of COVID-19.
Over the past two years, RQ has distributed over $200,000 to more than 150 breeders across the state as a result of the ‘In Foal’ rebate initiative.
“The breeding industry is critical to the Queensland racing industry, nurturing and raising the QBRED stars of tomorrow,” RQ COO Adam Wallish said.
“COVID-19 has had an impact society wide, and while racing has continued, many owners and breeders will have been impacted financially.
“The ‘In Foal’ rebate is designed to assist breeders through this period so as they can continue their important involvement in the industry.”
In order to be eligible, breeders must meet the following criteria:
- the mare must be a standardbred registered with Harness Racing Australia (the Mare);
- the breeder must evidence a 42-day live pregnancy test for the Mare;
- the Mare must be inseminated in Queensland by a standardbred stallion registered with Harness Racing Australia; and
- the Mare must be located in Queensland throughout the breeding season.
To make a claim, breeders have two options:
The form must be lodged by 11.59pm on March 31, 2021.
Earlier this month, RQ also announced the introduction of the ‘Transitional QBRED’ eligibility as part of the QBRED Incentive Scheme for the upcoming racing season (commencing 1 January 2021), to complement the existing scheme and replace what is currently the ‘International QBRED’.
The ‘Transitional QBRED’ eligibility will allow a mare once in her lifetime to foal a QBRED-eligible horse in Queensland, despite being inseminated interstate or overseas by a stallion not registered with QRIC.
Click here to learn more about ‘Transitional QBRED’ eligibility which will be included in the QBRED Incentive Scheme for the 2020/21 Racing Season.