Thousands lost prize payouts as country race suffered wet weather
Queensland’s horse racing calendar is covered in red crosses due to wet weather, costing the industry hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Key Point:
- 22 country races canceled across Queensland and 10 country races could not be rescheduled due to wet weather
- No $140,000 prize won
- Roman horse trainer says it’s been an extraordinary year for the industry
Twenty-two non-TAB race events were canceled between January 1st and July 30th.
Two more countries will host the competition. Talwood and Cunnamulla were canceled this month due to wet weather.
Local turf clubs say the impact has been huge, with some clubs canceling their only social event for the year.
This weekend, the Roma Turf Club will host additional races for horses that did not qualify.
But that means some competitors have to travel over 500 kilometers to make a last-minute detour.
Roman horse trainer Craig Smith said the wet weather was exceptional.
“I’ve been here for 34 years and it seems like every ten years or so we have this kind of season,” he said.
“many [regional tracks] It’s dirty. Not enough time for them to dry.
“It’s a work in progress.”
Smith said many horses from remote areas were withdrawn from competition altogether this month due to extra travel and different track conditions.
“It takes a little work,” he said.
“Racing Queensland is doing their best and putting in extra money and extra races for us.
“But it’s one of those things that we have to fight against and do the best we can.”
Bounty lost in the wet
Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said most of the canceled competitions had their races moved to other venues.
“It was an unusually wet period,” Parnell said.
Racing Queensland has allocated $5.7 million in prize money for non-TAB events this season.
But I couldn’t pay the $140,000.
“Prize money is like a salary for the people who work in the industry,” Parnell said.
Despite the wet weather, 12 races were rescheduled to another date, saving most of the prize money payout.
“If we hadn’t been able to move as many races as we have in the past, we would have lost nearly $1 million in prize money,” Parnell said.
“That $140,000 will be reinvested in country races statewide.”
Parnell said that in addition to the prize money, about $5 million was given to help cover travel and other expenses incurred from races in countries that needed to be rescheduled.
“Fuel and feed costs are also rising, so it also supports the owners,” he said.
“[The] most [wet weather] The cost was felt at the club level. ”
A blow to the social calendar
Talwood Racing chairman Col Mitchell said the cancellation was a loss not only for the club but also for the town’s locals.
“There’s only one competition a year. It’s a loss of the social dimension,” he said.
“There were 15 of us [millimetres] Rain in the previous week, then 16 [millimetres] s Day. ”
Mitchell said it wasn’t just Racing Queensland’s calendar that was being rescheduled, it was Talwood itself.
“We can’t race in May because we are sowing. The harvest is in October and it is also a cotton growing region, so we need to sow in early October and pick in April. there is,” he said. .
“I’m canceling now and making plans for next year.”
Other turf clubs hope they can save the competition.
The Kanamura & District Diggers Race Club has had two races in a row canceled in August due to rain.
Secretary of State Liz Rand said she wanted a rain check.
“It took so many adjustments to change from Saturday to Sunday the first time. Now we are looking for a completely different date,” said Rand.
“We already have trophies, which means we have to find a use for them next year or use the same 30 to 32 sponsors.”
Rand said the pain of the cancellation was less about earnings and more about continuing to race in West Queensland.
“We provide services,” she said.
Thousands lost prize payouts as country race suffered wet weather
Source link Thousands lost prize payouts as country race suffered wet weather
