Media Statements - Minister: TAB distributing $1.5 million to country racing

5/1/01

Racing and Gaming Minister Norman Moore today honoured a promise of financial assistance to the racing industry in country Western Australia.

The Minister announced a $1.5 million funding boost, most of which will go direct to owners of horses starting in country racing and trotting meetings.

“Country racing and trotting are experiencing a number of problems and the subsidies are aimed at helping reduce race-day costs for all owners and trainers,” he said.

Mr Moore said country greyhounds would be assisted by an increase in stakemoney at Mandurah and Northam.

The TAB would start distributing the money from the discretionary fund immediately.

The money would be distributed as follows over the next 12 months:

West Australian Provincial Thoroughbred Racing ($882,400)

$100 payment to non-stake earning starters.
approximately $175,000 to increase stakemoney.

Western Australian Country Trotting ($377,600)

$50 payment to non-stake earning starters.

Country Racing ($80,000)

$50 payment to non-stake earning starters.

Western Australian Greyhound Racing Association ($160,000)

$110,000 for Mandurah Greyhound Racing and the Avon Valley Greyhound Racing Association (Northam) to increase stakes by approximately 10 per cent.
$50,000 to WAGRA to enable it to provide additional support for country clubs.

Mr Moore said that the $1.5 million allocation was a result of recent changes to the profit distribution provisions of the Totalisator Agency Board Betting Act 1960.

It was set up to help overcome some of the industry’s more immediate problems pending the outcome of the Racing Industry Review under the chairmanship of Gavin Fielding.

Submissions for funding assistance had been sought from all clubs and peak bodies.

Mr Moore said that a number of submissions sought capital funding. These had been referred to the Racecourse Development Trust for consideration.

He said the TAB discretionary funding would see most of the money flow into the pockets of the owners and trainers thereby providing assistance to participants in the industry rather than to the clubs or associations themselves.

“Racing in the country is at the heart of the WA industry and it must not be allowed to become the poor relation of metropolitan racing,” Mr Moore said.

Media contact:
Hartley Joynt 9321 1444