Greyhound Racing NSW has announced a 23% increase in prizemoney and returns for participants in 2021-22, with the new record total of $47million doubling the figure that was paid just six years ago.
Making the announcement, GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov said he was delighted to continue “a hugely positive upwards trend” in returns paid to the industry’s participants.
Prizemoney and returns paid to participants will have increased by a collective $55million, or 46%, over the five-year period from 2018-22 compared with the previous five years (2013-17).
Mr Mestrov said:
“The sustained growth of the overall industry in NSW is being driven by investments in a strong wagering product and the success of GRNSW’s animal welfare initiatives as a part of industry reform, which is creating greater levels of confidence.
“Our owners, trainers and breeders, are the lifeblood of the industry and have been through an extraordinary period of transformation in recent years.
“GRNSW is delighted to be in the position to significantly increase the income opportunities and offset costs for participants while at the same time managing its whole-of-industry investment in a responsible way.”
This year’s increase of $8.5million on the FY20-21 distribution of $38.5million will be spread through a wide variety of initiatives including additional investment in the expansion of TAB racing in regional areas, an uplift to feature racing and feature racing prizemoney, the already increased prizemoney during in the first two months of due to COVID-19, and a $2 million increase in prizemoney levels of which will commence later this year for maidens and races over the 440m distance at provincial venues.
From November 1, prizemoney for provincial maiden events will increase by $440 per race, while there will be an increase of $800 across all grades for provincial events 440m and above from December 1.
GRNSW will also be expanding its successful Middle-Distance Series’ to the Central West and Northern Rivers regions.
“It’s the prizemoney that fuels the livelihoods of thousands of participants and many more thousands in the regional and rural local communities where 75% of our participant base resides,” Mr Mestrov said.
“Any increase in prizemoney has a positive knock-on effect to local communities which share the bulk of more than $500million that the NSW greyhound industry contributes to the State’s economy.
“It is especially pleasing this year to announce such a big boost given the resilience our participants shown yet again over the past 18 months, taking full responsibility and care to co-operate and help navigate our industry through COVID-19 and its restrictions.
“It’s not long ago that the industry had its line-in-the-sand moment, and we are continually reminded of 2016 and the events which led to a non-negotiable requirement for participants to be the forefront of change and reform that has taken place since that point. To be able to repay those efforts with a 100% increase in prizemoney and travel subsidies from $23.5million in 2016 to $47million this year is another validation of the industry’s progress and achievements.”
Aside from these substantial increase in returns in 2021-22, GRNSW will also provide participants with more than $1.5 million in additional support through the Homing Assistance Scheme, the Racing Injury Rebate Scheme, and the Greyhound Care Scheme.
Further announcements around the dispersal of prizemoney will be made in coming months.
