Funding Increased for Queensland Country Racing

2 December 2008

Queensland Racing Ltd. and the Queensland Country Racing Committee met on Monday to confirm an enhanced 13.1 million Australian dollar annual country racing funding package to country stakeholders.

The additional funding will occur during a three-year period, which begins in July 2009. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the funding boost was 3.6 million Australian dollars.

“There must be a balance of support for country racing and the need for Queensland to have a strong and viable professional industry,” said Bob Bentley, Queensland Racing’s chairman, in a prepared statement. “I firmly believe this has been achieved through the new country racing funding and race date model.”

Mr. Bentley said the racing schedule has been revised by removing regional race date clashes.