This is due to the $21 million worth of increases in Country and Provincial prize money set to take effect from July 1 this year, the biggest injection of prize money in Country NSW racing history, as recently announced by the Baird Government’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing, Tony Grant M.P. and Racing NSW Chairman John Messara.

Increases in minimum Country TAB and Provincial prize money, as well as the introduction of Showcase Country Race Meetings, will account for more than 60 per cent of the proceeds from the second and third years of the wagering tax parity ruling, providing a much need boost to Country NSW racing.  

The increases for industry participants will see prizemoney jump to approximately $69 million per annum, up from $31.2 million in the 2011 financial year, an increase of 120 per cent during that period.

This will see Country TAB meetings race for a minimum of $20,000 per race, equating to an increase of $5,000 (or 33 per cent) on the current offering.

Provincial meetings will also receive a $5,000 (or 23 per cent) increase per race to $27,000.

This is good news for country trainers, such as Nowra’s Robert Price and Shoalhaven Heads’ Terry Robinson.

“Obviously, these are great incentives for country trained owners and trainers,” Robinson said.

“Anything that injects more prize money into the sport and gives owners more incentive to get involved in horse racing is a positive.

“Hopefully this will not only attract new owners, but also encourage some older ones back into the industry as well.”

The latest benefits to Country and Provincial racing, follow last seasons introduction of the Country and Provincial Championships of $2.3 million in prize money and the recently commenced Highway Handicap races for Country-trained horses which provide a further $1.6 million in prize money annually for Country participants, where both Robinson and Price have enjoyed success this season.  

“The Highway races gives the Country boys a chance to earn extra prize money, especially in the Class 1, 2 and 3 races,” Robinson said.

“It’s great to see such a high betting turnover on these races, which shows they are well supported, especially as some of the other fields aren’t as full.”

Racing NSW has also committed approximately $50 million for capital works at Country and Provincial race clubs throughout NSW from accumulated race field fees.

Robinson admits though that these changes are likely to increase the strength of Country/Provincial race fields in the future.

“My main concern is that it will add an incentive to Sydney trainers to venture further to take advantage of some of the extra prize money on offer,” he said.

“But all in all, I think the positives certainly outweigh any potential negatives.”

Fellow South Coast trainer Robert Price reiterated Robinson’s concern, saying that while the funding increase appears good on the surface, all may be not what it seems.

“Don’t get me wrong, the increase in prize money will be great for clubs such as Nowra, making them bigger and stronger,” Price said.

“But I think it is going to hurt country trainers.”

“Look at the statistics, 50 per cent of all country races are won by city trainers and 28 per cent are won by Provincials, leaving just 22 per cent for us Country trainers.

“And with this increase in prize money, the city trainers are going to be more inclined to travel further to attend race meets.”

Price recalls that there were 2,000 members of the association when he first started training, a number which has risen to 7,500 today.

“The Highway races are the best thing since sliced bread, but there is only one winner from that association each week,” he said.

“You can’t blame the big city stables, as they have big wage and staff bills and are trying to make ends meet.

“But for someone like me who has more than $350,000 worth of expenses annually, winning races is going to become harder to do.”

While the prize money increases have been met with differing opinions of local trainers, it can still be clear to say that there has never been a better time to be owning a racehorse in NSW come July 1 this year.