A shiny new infrastructure vision is all good and well – but Queensland trainers say what the struggling industry desperately needs is a prizemoney boost.
Racing Queensland has released details of a $200 million infrastructure plan, including a blueprint for night racing on the Gold Coast as well as proposed upgrades to racing facilities across the state.
There is also a proposal for two new tracks to drive the growth of greyhounds in south-east Queensland.
The plan has identified $198 million of projects but thoroughbred trainers say a lot of it may be largely pointless without extra prizemoney.
Queensland prizemoney was slashed by almost $20 million in 2015 and some recent increases are a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to get confidence back.
Trainers are hoping the proposed Tabcorp-Tatts merger will deliver more money to the Queensland industry, but the future of the deal is uncertain with the Federal Court recently setting side approval of the deal.
Former champion jockey Chris Munce, the new Queensland president of the Australian Trainers' Association, says the Queensland industry isn't going to go forward until there is more prizemoney on the table.
"Of course some of the improvements and progressions proposed under the infrastructure plan are a good thing, but we have to remember there are a lot of struggling trainers and owners out there," Munce said.
"Without more prizemoney, those struggling trainers and owners won't be in the industry long enough to enjoy some of the infrastructure benefits, such as the lights on the Gold Coast track.
"We do need upgrades and improvements but, at the end of the day, they don't mean a great deal unless there is more prizemoney injected into the industry.
"We keep hearing there may be some more prizemoney increases by the end of the year and I really hope that is the case.''
Daniel Guy, who trains in partnership with his father Bryan, is far from convinced racing authorities are going the right way about trying to revitalise the Queensland industry.
"People will look at this infrastructure plan and say it looks nice, but what does it really all mean?'' Guy said.
"Is anyone really going to race more horses in Queensland because there are some new facilities? The reality is we are racing for a lot less money than in southern states.
"I look at this infrastructure plan and think a lot of it is pie in the sky stuff, I wonder if much of it will even happen.
"Rather than a field of dreams approach, racing bosses should get the basics right first.
"One of the biggest basics is to actually be racing for decent prizemoney."
Not this again what the @racing_qld industry needs is real integrity and Prizemoney that's how you grow not a Field Of Dreams approach pic.twitter.com/0eyq6g7Yfa
— Bryan Guy (@BryanGuyRacing) September 23, 2017
