By Tony McMahon
Rockhampton Jockey Club chairman Rob Carr has welcomed the announcement of a sizeable prize money increase for Callaghan Park races to come into effect from early in the New Year.
At Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns TAB race meetings, all maiden races will increase by $1,500 to a platform of $22,000 a race.
The same increases will apply to all non-maiden races making them too worth $20,000 in stakes.
QTIS Bonus 2YO and 3YO races will also carry $38,000 for fillies and $32,500 for colts and geldings.
Furthermore, throughout Queensland, in excess of 100 country TAB races will receive a $2,000 raise being elevated to $14,000.
Rob Carr was quick to praise the initiatives which he said would benefit Rockhampton racing and the industry in general throughout the regional and country areas.
“I wish to congratulate Racing Queensland for what this positive announcement will do for our industry,” Carr said.
“Particularly it is good to see the regional areas such as Rockhampton and beyond and the outback being the beneficiaries.
“It could be said sometimes racing people in these areas feel forgotten but this prize money lift is across the board which is a very positive and an appreciative move.”
Additionally, support races conducted on feature race days within the regions will be increased from $25,000 to $30,000.
The package emanated from additional Queensland Government funding of $7.5million (part of $15.3 million) brought forward through the accelerated Investment Growth Plan.
The plethora of prize money increases comes about from Government changes to fund 35% of the Point of Consumption Tax back to the racing industry.
South East Queensland race clubs will also benefit from stakes increases and with the introduction of a $50,000 showcase race run weekly.
However, Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson AM said the majority of the $5.5 million thoroughbred racing increase in stakes is for grass roots racing.
The announcement is timely for regional racing with Queensland yearling sales commencing in January and scheduled for March before the Capricornia Yearling Sales in Rockhampton next April.
Rockhampton racing is on a high with owners, trainers and jockeys competing for record stakes such as the $208,500 offered at Callaghan Park TAB races last Thursday.
The increases announced this week augur well for the sustainability and growth of racing in Queensland which employs 12,000 (up 1,000 past 2 years) and has about 40,000 participants.