Australian racing industry calls for more money

Queensland trainers are threatening to move out of the state if they don’t get more prize money from the authorities.

Australia.- The thoroughbred racing industry is going through a delicate situation in Queensland as Melbourne Cup day celebrations could be broken up by unsatisfied trainers. They are trying to get more prize money from the state’s new gambling tax and are saying they’ll move out of state if they don’t get what they want.

“If we were going to pay past 5th place back to the 10th to give everyone some more money and spread the love, we’d have to take the money out of 1st, 2nd 3rd, and 4th,” Australian Trainers Association state executive Cameron Partington said, adding: “How do you fix that problem? You’ve got to put more money in at the start and spread it over more people so that more trainers can get some income out of running their horses.”

According to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, “millions of dollars are given every year to the racing industry.” She also said: “There is a substantial amount of the gambling tax going back to the racing industry. We’ve also forgiven half of their debt as well, I mean, we are taking a lot of measures here.”

Tax revenue will also pay off €10.9 million Racing Queensland owes the state government and will fund infrastructure works at Eagle Farm, Doomben and Bundamba, and support problem gambling support services.