FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

The mission of NSWROA is to further and protect the rights of racehorse owners in New South Wales.

The NSWROA Committee is constantly addressing matters that are of interest and benefit to owners.

In recent times, a number of important matters have been on the agenda for the Committee and I am pleased to advise that a substantial number of these matters have had positive results.

Following extensive lobbying by the NSWROA Committee, Racing NSW agreed to the expansion of the Racing NSW Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme (BOBS). Our thanks again to Racing NSW Board member Kim Harding for her support of our suggestion and its ultimate realisation.

BOBS Extra is an exciting expansion of the BOBS Scheme. The incumbent BOBS series have been highly successful, paying bonuses of up to $20,000 for wins by BOBS eligible racehorses of two and three years of age. BOBS Extra now builds on the success of BOBS, targeting middle distance and staying races for BOBS racehorses aged four years and older. BOBS Extra provides a great incentive for owners to keep horses in work and training after their classic year.

NSWROA encourages all members to support BOBS Extra by nominating their horses for the Scheme.

The Association was also successful in our representations to the Australian Jockey Club to have the loading ramp for horses modified at Randwick Racecourse. Members indicated that they were having trouble with access to the ramps.

NSWROA tabled a submission to the Productivity Commission in response to their Draft Report on Gambling in December. The Committee were unanimously of the view that as racehorse owners have a vital interest in any funding model adopted by the racing industry, it was essential that a submission be sent.

In the coming months, I will keep you updated on some of the many other “projects” we currently have in train.

A QUESTION FOR OWNERS & TRAINERS?

Does your bookmaker offer you the better of Top Tote or Best Fluctuation and then throw in an extra 12% BONUS on top of your winnings?

Well Luxbet punters get just that with ClubXtra. ClubXtra is exclusive to racehorse owners and trainers and rewards you with an EXTRA 12% win dividend on top of Luxbet’s premium odds when you bet on a horse you own or train. To take advantage of the ClubXtra 12% bonus, you need to be a Luxbet.com account holder. Visit Luxbet.com for details on how to open an account and register your horses with ClubXtra. Conditions apply, see Luxbet.com for details.

BEST OF THE BEST*(aka BOB) guarantees punters the best of Top Fluctuation or the Best Tote dividend, whichever pays more! BOB is available up to 40 minutes prior to the first race on Melbourne & Sydney Saturday metro meetings. LUXDIV* is perfect for punters who like to bet right up to the jump and gives you Best Tote or the official on-course Starting Price (SP), whichever pays more! LUXDIV* is available on all metropolitan meetings (excluding Perth).

Luxbet is part of Australia’s premier gambling and entertainment group Tabcorp. Luxbet.com is not only dedicated to providing punters with competitive odds, Luxbet.com is the only corporate bookmaker totally committed to returning a significant percentage of profits back into the racing industry. By supporting the thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing codes, Luxbet is helping to ensure a viable future for racing.

*Conditions apply. See luxbet.com for details.

2010 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

A reminder to members that 2010 membership renewal fees are now due.

2010 membership fees, inclusive of GST, have remained at the same rate as last year. We have in 2010 introduced a Country Membership Rate to assist our country friends to continue to participate in membership and also encourage new country patronage of the Association.

Please note that if you renew your membership by Friday 5 February 2010, you are automatically entered into the “Early Bird” Membership Renewal Competition which has three great prizes on offer.

To those of our members who have already renewed your membership our thanks – your support of the Association is greatly appreciated.

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS

A WINNER – there are no better words for an owner to hear!

As members are aware, as part of our membership renewal process, NSWROA requested members to forward the names of their racehorses in order for us to acknowledge their racing triumphs in our publications.

By popular demand, this feature has been “upgraded” for the 2009/2010 racing season. Accordingly, hereunder are the lucky NSWROA members who had winners in December 2009:

BOBS & BOBS EXTRA UPDATE

It was interesting to see at the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast in early January that around 90% of the yearlings catalogued were BOBS eligible. That’s not surprising, of course, at a major sale when we know that the Hunter Valley is the powerhouse region of our thoroughbred breeding industry.

What was interesting was the determination of many buyers to consider only those lots which were BOBS eligible, ignoring those which were not. These were not only NSW residents but also many Queensland residents, particularly if they were living on the Gold Coast.

Once again this proves how valuable the BOBS program is to the industry and how those bonuses can make all the difference in making ends meet.

While we advertise that bonuses of up to $20,000 are available, the reality is that the potential bonuses are much larger.

When an owner wins a Saturday metropolitan bonus of $20,000 there are deductions of $4000 ($2500 to the stallion nominator, $1000 to the trainer and $500 to the NSW Jockeys’ Association.) That leaves the owner with $16,000 which can be doubled in value to $32,000 if the owner takes a Double-Up voucher for the purchase of another horse.

So the potential payout by Racing NSW in BOBS bonuses for that one race is $36,000! In a similar vein a $10,000 bonus is potentially $18,000 and a $5000 bonus can be $9000.

Now that the 2-year-old racing program is in full swing more bonuses are being won. For example, at Rosehill on Saturday 16 January BOBS bonuses went to two 2YO winners and two 3YO winners. Almost half a million dollars had been won by mid-January for that month alone, with the season’s total fast approaching $3 million.

The leading owner was NSWROA member Sheikh Mohammed, with 23 bonuses worth $220,000. Commands was the leading stallion, siring the winners of 21 bonuses valued at $136,250.

For further information please contact:
John Gatfield,
BOBS Executive Officer,
Racing NSW,
(02) 9551-7574,
jgatfield@racingnsw.com.au

HENDRA VIRUS

The importance of vigilance cannot be stressed enough when it comes to the Hendra virus.

The Hendra virus is carried by fruit bats, and may cause fever, respiratory and/or nervous illness when
it infects horses. While horses rarely become infected, infected horses may infect humans, and
the disease has severe consequences.

Minimise the risk to yourself and your horse by:-

• preventing horses from eating or drinking feed or water that may be contaminated by body fluids from fruit bats roosting, feeding or flying overhead, and

• knowing the signs of Hendra and what to do if you suspect infection.

The following links provide information on Hendra virus that will assist you to understand the disease and how to minimise the risk of infection.

A Primefact on Hendra virus is available on the NSW DPI website at:-
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horses/health/general/hendra-virus

CSIRO, the organisation responsible for identifying the virus has published summary information at:-
http://www.csiro.au/science/Hendra-Virus.html

The Queensland Government Primary Industries and Fisheries website provides comprehensive information on Hendra virus:-
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/27_2900_ENA_HTML.htm

What is Hendra virus? (this includes reducing the risk to horses):-
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_15093_ENA_HTML.htm

Hendra virus overview:-
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_11127_ENA_HTML.htm

Flying foxes and Hendra virus:-
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_15094_ENA_HTML.htm

Signs of infection in humans:-
http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/ViralInfections/hendraVirusInfection_fs.asp

A detailed article from the Australian Biosecurity CRC:-
http://www1.abcrc.org.au/uploads/8aee9ac0-1355-4339-b5b6-5772a4ee6cf7/docs/HeV_Review_updated170909.pdf

This list is to assist you to find information on Hendra virus. Additional information may also be found at other sites.

If you suspect that your horse may be infected with Hendra virus you should call your private veterinary practitioner as soon as possible. In addition, you are legally obliged to report your suspicion to:-

• an inspector working for the Primary Industries division of Industry and Investment NSW at
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/about/contact, or

• your local Livestock Health and Pest Authority at http://www.lhpa.org.au/contact

If one of the above cannot be contacted and the matter is urgent, please call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

EXCLUSIVE INSURANCE PACKAGE FOR NSWROA MEMBERS

One of the benefits of NSWROA membership is the exclusive racehorse insurance package available from NSWROA corporate partner, Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers.

This leading insurance broking firm was established over 40 years ago and has earned a highly respected reputation for the quality of its service and expertise in a number of specialised areas, including thoroughbred insurance.

The insurance package offered to NSWROA members includes significantly reduced premiums for mortality cover through Lloyd’s of London. This offer is available to all NSWROA members for their ownership interests, regardless as to whether a horse is owned 100%, or in a partnership/syndicate, and covers horses currently racing or horses as yet unraced (including yearlings purchased at sale). Stallion shares, broodmares, foals and pre-sale yearlings can also be covered.

The Lloyd’s mortality cover is basically for death of the horse from any disease/illness or accident/injury, but does not cover intentional slaughter unless a vet certifies that the horse's suffering is incurable and so excessive that immediate destruction is imperative for humane reasons. The policy also covers the horse in the event that it is stolen, as well as all transits anywhere within Australia and to (or from) New Zealand.

Benefits of the policy offered to NSWROA members that are not part of the standard policy include: the death of a horse which becomes ill or injured within the period of insurance for up to 12 months after the policy expires; and surgery conducted by a qualified veterinarian under local or general anaesthetic (both subject to the policy terms and conditions).

Importantly, in addition to these cost savings and special policy inclusions, is the professional and personalised service that is provided with the package.

Should you wish to find out more about the NSWROA horse insurance package, please contact Kingsley Edwards, Thoroughbred Insurance Manager, on (02) 8267 9940 or by email kedwards@gowgates.com.au.

Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers (Australasia) Pty Ltd, A.B.N 29 069 562 787, AFSL 245433.

Disclaimer: The information above is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon without the consulting the “Lloyd’s Equine Policy LE (Australia) LMA3069” wording with relevant endorsements and seeking independent professional advice.