With little light on the horizon with regard to prizemoney increases in Queensland, the Queensland Racehorse Owners' Association (QROA) has questioned the wisdom of the State Governments focus on infrastructure spending for the industry.In a statement, it says: "The current infrastructure plan by Racing Queensland delivers only medium and long term benefit to the industry," said QROA president Grant Morgan. Whilst many of the projects within the plan are important, nothing has been don
With little light on the horizon with regard to prizemoney increases in Queensland, the Queensland Racehorse Owners' Association (QROA) has questioned the wisdom of the State Governments focus on infrastructure spending for the industry.
In a statement, it says: "The current infrastructure plan by Racing Queensland delivers only medium and long term benefit to the industry," said QROA president Grant Morgan. Whilst many of the projects within the plan are important, nothing has been done to address the short term need of prizemoney increases at the grass roots level.
"The Queensland State Government and Racing Minister Tim Mulherin need to understand that prizemoney is the fuel that fires this industry. Prizemoney stimulates investment by owners, which in turn trickles down throughout the industry and out to the wider economy in Queensland. We are starting to see trends where owners in Queensland are looking elsewhere in Australia to race.
"Horse numbers are down at our major tracks and trainers are struggling because of this. Racing is one of the major employers in the state and at a time when the State Government is concerned about creating jobs, surely it must play closer attention to our industry.
The QROA is committed to maintaining the fight for better prizemoney and will conduct a Racing Forum at its AGM next Friday (19 August 2011) at Tattersall's Club, Brisbane."