The distribution and industry funding announced by Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) last week will have a positive impact on harness racing across Western Australia.
The key priority for the 2018/19 racing season is the implementation of the new business model for harness racing, with almost $1million allocated to this important project.
The newly formed RWWA Harness Racing Committee has played an important role in determining the areas of funding priority for the code.
Transitional stakes tiering will be introduced from 1 September 2018 along with enhancing the racing circuits and implementation of further elements of the new business model. From 1 September to 31 October 2018:
Gloucester Park prime race meetings will have total meeting stakes increased by $11,500. Gloucester Park mid-week total meeting stakes remain unchanged.
Total meeting stakes at Community and Provincial 2/Country race meetings will increase by $3,000 and $1,000 respectively. Provincial 1 total meeting stakes remain unchanged.
Following this period of transitional stakes increases, all remaining stakes increases will be implemented from 1 November 2018, delivering Gloucester Park mid-week total meeting stakes increases of $10,000 and Gloucester Park prime total meeting stakes will increase by an additional $7,500.
Total meeting stakes for Provincial 2/Country race meetings will increase by a further $500 from 1 November, with an additional $1,000 in total meeting stakes for Provincial 1 race meetings from this date.
See below for transitional stakes tables.
A further $3 million in grants have been allocated in 2018/19 to various racing projects across all three codes, including the completion of the Pinjarra Harness Stall project. Funding the completion of the Pinjarra Harness Stalls project will be significant for that region which is strategically positioned for future growth of the industry.
The overall increase in funding is made possible from the underlying performance of the WATAB together with growth in income from the WA Racing Bets Levy (Racefield Fees).
Transitional Tiered Stakes Table
|
|
Community
|
|
|
Present
|
September 1st – October 31st Transitional Implementation
|
1st November
Full Implementation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
|
6 X $3,500
|
8 X $4,500
|
8 X $4,500
|
|
2 X $6,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
|
$33,000
|
$36,000
|
$36,000
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Variance $3,000 +
|
Variance $Nil
|
|
|
Provincial 2 /Country
|
|
|
Present
|
September 1st – October 31st Transitional Implementation
|
1st November
Full Implementation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
|
2 X $8,500
|
2 X $8,500
|
7 X $7,500
|
|
5 X $7,000
|
5 x $7,000
|
1 x $4,500
|
|
1 X $3,500
|
1 x $4,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
|
$55,500
|
$56,500
|
$57,000
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Variance $1,000 +
|
Variance $500 +
|
|
|
Provincial 1
|
|
|
Present
|
September 1st – October 31st Transitional Implementation
|
1st November
Full Implementation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
|
6 X $7,000
|
6 X $7,000
|
8 X $7,500
|
|
2 X $8,500
|
2 X $8,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
|
$59,000
|
$59,000
|
$60,000
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Variance $Nil
|
Variance $1000 +
|
|
|
GP Mid Week
|
|
|
Present
|
September 1st – October 31st Transitional Implementation
|
1st November
Full Implementation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
|
6 X $7,000
|
6 X $7,000
|
4 X $7,500
|
|
2 X $8,500
|
2 X $8,500
|
2 X $9,000
|
|
|
|
2 X $10,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
|
$59,000
|
$59,000
|
$69,000
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Variance $Nil
|
Variance $10,000 +
|
|
|
GP Prime
|
|
|
Present
|
September 1st – October 31st Transitional Implementation
|
1st November
Full Implementation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
Races / Stakes
|
|
2 X $8,500
|
1 X $10,500
|
5 X $18,000
|
|
3 X $18,00
|
4 X $18,000
|
2 X $20,000
|
|
2 X $20,000
|
2 X $20,000
|
2 X $22,000
|
|
2 X $22,000
|
2 X $22,000
|
1 X $25,000
|
|
1 X $25,000
|
1 X $25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
Total Meeting Stakes
|
|
$180,000
|
$191,500
|
$199,000
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Variance $11,500
|
Variance $7,500 +
|
