Metro prizemoney increase due to EI

SYDNEY - Racing NSW has announced substantial minimum prizemoney increaes for Sydney metropolitan races.

The increases result from prizemoney not paid due to the EI shut down last August that extended to December 1.

As a result, the following prizemoney increases for metropolitan races will be implemented from April 1.

• Metropolitan Saturday prizemoney will increase by $5000 per race over the levels in place prior to the outbreak of EI. This will increase prizemoney for Saturday metropolitan races to a minimum of $70,000 per race.
• Metropolitan midweek prizemoney will increase by $2000 per race over the levels in place prior to the outbreak of EI. This will increase prizemoney for weekday and Sunday metropolitan races to a minimum of $27,000 per race.

In assessing the prizemoney increases, RNSW has also addressed the anomaly existing between some Listed Races and minimum Saturday prizemoney.

The differences have made some non-feature Saturday prizemoney and BOBS bonuses more financially attractive than contesting Listed Races.

As such the prizemoney for all Listed Races has been increased to $100,000, also effective from April 1.

The metropolitan increases follow on from increases in provincial and country TAB prizemoney taking effect during February and March.

RNSW chief executive Peter V'landys said the prizemoney increases reiterate the commitment to minimise losses to racing industry participants from EI.

Government launches quarantine review

The Federal Government has launched its review of the quarantine and biosecurity system.

It follows a string of quarantine problems over horse flu, citrus canker and sugar cane smut.
The review will be led by a four-man independent panel which will look at risk assessment, quarantine checks and responses to outbreaks.
It will also consider what progress has been made since Malcolm Nairn carried out the last major review in 1996.
Professor Nairn says many of his recommendations haven't yet been acted on, and he's worried about the July deadline for the new review.