Racing SA has followed the lead of administrators in New South Wales and Victoria by announcing a relief package to support participants feeling the effects of rising fuel costs.
From Wednesday and for the remainder of April, Racing SA will make payments of between $25 to $150 per starter to trainers, depending on the distance traveled to attend a race meeting.
Whilst the measures are primarily aimed at supporting local trainers, interstate trainers with runners at Saturday metropolitan meetings will also be eligible for the payments.
Jockeys with three or less rides at a meeting will receive an additional $50 payment on top of their riding fees, while racing clubs that host meetings during April will receive additional $1,000 payments per meeting to assist with increased costs associated with track and venue preparation.
South Australia’s ATA State Executive, Damien Wilton, welcomed the introduction of the package and said it is timely ahead of a busy racing schedule over the Easter long weekend.
“Rising fuel prices affect every part of a trainer’s operation, from raceday travel through to feed, freight and general business costs,” Wilton said.
“This support is a practical measure that acknowledges those pressures and will assist trainers, particularly those travelling to regional meetings, and is another example of the ATA and Racing SA working together to provide benefit to the local industry.”
SA Jockeys Association President Eran Boyd said the payments will ensure riders can continue to support provincial and country meetings during the autumn.
While much of the feature racing is concentrated in Adelaide, the racing schedule in April also includes two Port Augusta race meetings, as well as several race meetings in the state’s south-east.
“For riders, especially those with three rides or less at a meeting, travel costs can quickly add up,” Boyd said.
“This payment is a welcome acknowledgement of those pressures, and the role riders play in keeping the industry moving across metropolitan and regional South Australia.”
Racing SA also confirmed that it would make one-off $5000 payments to two horse sanctuaries involved in the rehoming of ex-racehorses to help assist with rising costs.
