In what is great news for racing in New South Wales and country racing in particular, the State Government has finally passed long-awaited laws that will see the racing tax cut from $3.22 for every $100 gambled to $1.28 per $100 — the same rate as in Victoria.
The cuts are to be introduced over a five-year period which, it is estimated, will see an additional $235 million initially put back into racing, with an additional $90 million each year thereafter.
“It’s a monumental, historical day that we have been fighting for for a long time,” said Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’Landys.
“I’m particularly excited about the benefits that will flow to country racing,” he added.
As a result of the passing of the law, Racing NSW announced that prizemoney for the Country Championships Final next year will be increased from $300,000 to $400,000.
In addition, Racing NSW revealed plans to raise the minimum prizemoney available on country races and to undertake several projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure at country tracks.
Dale in dazzling form
Canberra trainer Matthew Dale maintained his magnificent strike rate when the promising Bitburg took out the TAB Ross Cribb OBE Tribute Highway Handicap at Rosehill last Saturday.
The victory was Dale’s eighth from 20 runners since October 23.
The win came just a fortnight after the young trainer had taken out an earlier leg of the Highway Handicap series at Canterbury, with Shadow Affair.
Bitburg, who was resuming from a spell, recorded his fourth win from as many starts.
“He has an awful lot of ability but he is still very raw,” Dale offered.
Bitburg’s next run is likely to be in the $250,000 Inglis Dash at Randwick on December 12.
Another cup for Cummings
Randwick trainer James Cummings added another cup to the family’s impressive collection  when Colour Of Money took out the historic Bong Bong Picnic Cup last Friday.
Leading amateur jockey Rick Blewitt steered him to victory in front of a capacity crowd at the very popular annual picnic race meeting at Bowral, in the Southern Highlands.
Prizemoney for the winner was $8,775.
While it has become the norm in recent years to see city trainers contesting country races, it has been less common to see them nominating for picnic races.
The Cummings victory had some racing supporters questioning whether picnic races, in keeping with the tradition of these meetings, should be restricted to country-trained horses.
Blur claims Goulburn feature
The Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones-trained Just A Blur took out Sunday’s Goulburn Cup (1600m).
Ridden by Mathew Cahill, the five-year-old mare proved too strong over the concluding stages for the well-backed Moral Victory.
Training honours for the day went to local Danny Williams, who prepared three winners (Invincible Quest, Shutter Bug and Ashjata). Thomas Huet rode the latter two of those for Williams.
Follow Elegies
Topweight Elegies, trained by Rod Hilton and ridden by three-kilo claiming apprentice Mikayla Weir, scored an impressive win in a Benchmark 60 handicap at Armidale last Saturday.
Elegies carried 59kg after the claim and made light work of the impost, leading all the way.
Panya makes impression
Apprentice Deanne Panya, who recently moved from the south coast to the Randwick stables of Craig Carmody, has wasted no time in establishing her credentials.
She rode War Pig to victory for trainer Bjorn Baker at Hawkesbury last Friday and backed up on Bapaume at Newcastle the following day.
Tim Egan — www.countryracingnsw.com.au