October
JuneBack the bottom end
It has been great to read different industry bodies stating the obvious, that prizemoney must increase
It is a strange world we live in. A mug owner like me, who has raced and bred for the last 20-plus years states the obvious, yet no one listens. But the so-called experts state the same and all agree?
The allocation of prizemoney has been one of my bugbears for a number of years.
When prizemoney was cut at the beginning of COVID, the owners did not complain and wore the ongoing cost. This helped everyone in the industry.
Not one other participant dropped their fees and charges over that period.
The industry forgets that if not for owners, we don’t have an industry.
The bottom end remains the issue. Benchmark 58s run for $22,000, whcih should be increased to $30,000. All maiden races, no matter where, should be $40,000. This gives the owner a boost and helps at the beginning.
All other country races should carry $45,000. Midweek city racing should be 60 per cent of Saturday prizemoney.
Non-tote purses should be $20,000, $10,000 at the picnics.
Increasing the bottom end will keep horses in work longer, producing a domino effect. Everyone wins.
Mind you, if all this did happen, guess what? The owner’s outgoings would increase as trainers, service providers and suppliers increased their fees and prices to match.
Ivanhoe (Vic)