Racing Victoria is the latest state to announce fuel subsidies as the industry is hit with rising costs thanks to the Iran war.
In a statement on Tuesday, Racing Victoria said every licensed trainer will receive $100 per starter ‘’to assist with their operations in the face of escalating fuel costs’’.
Every jockey will receive a $50 subsidy on top of their usual riding fee.
Betsy revealed recently how some Victorian trainers were being forced to pass on a levy up to 20% to owners.
It comes as Racing NSW last week announced a $1.5 million fuel package for the state as the country grapples with rapidly rising costs.
The Racing NSW package includes $100 per race starter payment for all horses travelling less than 150km each way to a race meeting and $200 per race starter payment for all horses travelling more than 150km each way to a race meeting.
While the Racing Victoria amount is less than what Racing NSW is offering for longer distances, the Racing Victoria statement said the cut in fuel excise by the Federal Government, announced on Monday, would save drivers between between 26.3 cents per litre and 58.9 cents per litre per litre depending on the type of transport.
Racing Victoria’s fuel initiative has the backing of the Trainers, Owners and Jockeys’ Associations.
”With a large network of country racetracks and training businesses spread across all the regions, our industry is heavily reliant on fuel to compete and thus transportation represents a substantive portion of industry costs,” Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison said.
“The temporary measures we have announced today are designed to work alongside the Federal Government’s reduction of the fuel excise and removal of the heavy vehicle road user charge to provide some relief to those in our industry, particularly around horse transport.”
“The measures we’ve announced today come following extensive consultation with stakeholder groups and those discussions will continue regularly in the weeks ahead on the length of time these temporary measures will remain in place.”
The payments will be made by RV in arrears on a weekly basis and will be implemented for one month before being reviewed.
