FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

Members would recall that in the February issue of the NSWROA Times, the issue of horse safety and security during music festivals was raised primarily as a result of the incident that occurred in the Flemington stables of Mark Kavanagh.

The Association wrote to the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) seeking advice on what safety and security measures were to be implemented during the “Future Music Festival” at Randwick. The AJC reassured the Association that the event and security plans they had in place for the Future Music Festival were second to none and would allow them to properly manage event risks.

The feedback we have subsequently received following the event has indicated that the plans were successful. Our congratulations to the AJC.

I would like to thank members for their support of the Association by attending our social functions. Our most recent function was the night racing cocktail function on 4 March and it was a great success with attendees enjoying not only good racing, food and beverages, but also an exceptional millinery display. A full report on the night appears later in the Newsletter.

I advise that currently the Association is looking into a number of matters on behalf of members. Without going into too much detail at present, I can advise that some of these issues will be raised at the next Racing Industry Consultation Group meeting.

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Luxbet offers punters a huge range of exceptionally competitive fixed-odds betting markets on the NRL, AFL, Super14 plus hundreds of local and overseas sports events every week. You can even back your favourite personality on reality TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol. Betting is available online at www.luxbet.com or by calling 132 LUX (132 589).

As always, racing punters are treated like VIP’s with Luxbet’s HIGHEST PRICE GUARANTEE on Best Of The Best and LuxDiv. BEST OF THE BEST* (aka BOB) guarantees punters get Top Fluctuation odds and 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.

For those punters who like to bet right up until the jump, LUXDIV* gives you the best price of Best Tote or the official on-course Starting Price (SP), whichever pays more! LUXDIV* is available on all metro meetings (excluding Perth).

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To open a Luxbet account visit www.luxbet.com or call the friendly call centre staff on 1300 LUXBET (1300 589 238).

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BMW BARRIER DRAW JUST ONE OF THE MANY HIGHLIGHTS OF LUNCHEON FUNCTION ON 30 MARCH 2010

The Barrier Draw for the BMW is just one of the many highlights of the function the Association is holding on Tuesday, 30 March from 1.00 pm – 3.00pm.

The function, which will be held following the AAMI Golden Slipper Barrier Draw, is to be conducted at Three Lounge at Bar 333, 333 George Street, Sydney.

Whilst savouring drinks and a cocktail style lunch, guests will:-
• be entertained by the very talented Jo McKinnon, the MC for the function;
• be treated to a Phantom Call by the legendary Ian Craig – who makes a special return to the microphone for this event; and
• witness the barrier draw of Sydney’s premier Weight For Age event, The BMW.

So do not delay, book your place today. Click here for booking form.

SYDNEY CUP DAY LUNCHEON – 24 APRIL 2010

The President and Directors of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association (NSWROA) would like to invite you to join them for a great day of racing – Sydney Cup Raceday at Royal Randwick – Saturday 24 April 2010.

As previous attendees will confirm, the NSWROA Sydney Cup Luncheon is an event not to be missed.

The package for the day includes a sumptuous buffet luncheon and beverage package, afternoon tea, Guest Tipsters and Tipping Competition, Best Hat & Best Tie Competition, a Raffle with great prizes, race book and pen and full tote and bookmaker facilities.

The luncheon, which is held in the Vista Room, Level 5, Queen Elizabeth Stand, is priced at $170.00 per person, GST inclusive. Click here for a booking form.

BOOK NOW as numbers are strictly limited. Please note that all bookings and payments must be received by 14 April 2010.

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 February 2010:

NSWROA NIGHT RACING COCKTAIL FUNCTION – CANTERBURY RACECOURSE

As members are aware, the Association conducted a Cocktail Function, which was attended by members, friends and supporters of the Association, to celebrate the closing of the Night Racing Season at Canterbury Park on Thursday, 4 March.

(L-R) Wayne Haylen, Joan Evatt, Geoff and Jan McAuliffe		(L-R) Carolyn Burns, Jane Pitman & Kate Nivison

Guests were treated to a wonderful millinery display by Catherine Kelly from Embellish Atelier and Sharon Lenton from Sharon Lenton Events as a “sneak peak” to the upcoming Golden Slipper Hats and High Tea function. This preview was very popular with guests and we thank Catherine and Sharon for taking the time to attend the event.

Embellish Atelier display		Sharon Lenton Display

Once again we must give a big thank you to the Sydney Turf Club for allowing the Association to utilize their Directors Room for our cocktail function. The room which overlooks the Winning Post, provided our guests with a fantastic view of the action on the track whilst they enjoyed the superb food and beverages on offer.

(L-R) Bernie Hudson with Lynne and Chris Lawlor		(L-R) NSWROA President Ray McDowell, Neale Blizard, Alan Convery and Yvonne Hoskins
(L-R) NSWROA Directors John Vouris, Michael Inglis & Max Whitby (R) with Andrew Vouris and Tony Doyle		(L-R) Lisa Champion, Jane Henning & Louis Mihalyka

The night was primarily an “informal function” with NSWROA Director, Darren Farnham kindly taking to the microphone as MC for the night. NSWROA President, Ray McDowell made a short speech thanking everyone for their attendance and also acknowledging the support and assistance he receives from the NSWROA Committee.

Brother Dan Stafford was kind enough to draw the lucky door prize winner on the night. The prize, two tickets to the Drinks & Cocktail function on 30 March, was won by Mr Andrew Vouris of Luxbet who immediately put his hand in his pocket and donated the cost of the two tickets to our charity of choice, Redkite.

Brother Dan Stafford and Darren Farnham		Andrew Vouris and Darren Farnham

The cocktail function was the first event of the year for NSWROA. The Association has two other functions during March – firstly, the Enchanted Golden Slipper Hats and High Tea (21 March) and the Drinks and Cocktail Style luncheon immediately following the AAMI Golden Slipper Barrier Draw (30 March).

We look forward to welcoming members to the various functions throughout the year.

BOBS & BOBS EXTRA UPDATE

We’re at that point of the year when owners are either assessing yearlings they’ve bred themselves, or assessing those going under the auctioneer’s hammer.

On a daily basis now I receive calls from owners checking on the timetable for BOBS nominations, making sure they don’t miss out. So I thought it was worth taking this opportunity to remind everyone of the deadline and the costs, and offer a few pointers to make the process run smoothly.

Most important of all is the closing date: 1 September 2010. If you have a yearling and you want it to be in BOBS as a 2YO and 3YO, download that nomination form from www.racingnsw.com.au and get it back to us before 1 September. The fee, as usual, is $660. If you miss the deadline you’ll have to pay $5500 for a late nomination.

If you want to nominate your yearling for BOBS Extra, you must do that at the same time, on the same form. The fee for that is $840 and there is no provision for a late entry to BOBS Extra. So that’s a total of $1500 for both BOBS and BOBS Extra.

BOBS covers your horse as a 2YO and 3YO in any race other than Group or Listed, over any distance. BOBS Extra clicks in when the horse turns 4YO and provides the same bonuses but only over distances of 1600m and longer, for the rest of the horse’s career.

We take major credit cards, of course, but if you want to save money, pay by cheque as we do pass on the merchant fees which can be as high as 2.75%. It also helps you (and us) if you send in your nominations early. If you wait until the last minute you run the risk of having your nomination by fax swamped in the mad rush.

And do check with your trainer to see if he or she is nominating your horse or whether it’s your responsibility. We do get cases where horses are nominated by both owner and trainer – and also cases where the horse doesn’t get nominated at all because the two didn’t talk!

Finally, if you bought a horse described as “BOBS Eligible” that doesn’t mean it’s been nominated – it’s your responsibility as the owner to make sure the nomination fee is paid.

During February 88 BOBS bonuses were won, with a cash value of $595,000. So far this season the cash value of bonuses has come to $3,760,000 – all money paid to owners and trainers on top of the regular prize money.

The Darley stallion Commands was the leading stallion for BOBS winners at the end of February, his progeny having collected 27 bonuses with a cash value of $196,250. He was followed by Lonhro (15 bonuses and $160,000), More Than Ready (18 and $160,000), Redoute’s Choice (17 and $145,000) and Fastnet Rock (12 and $137,500).

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

VALE – MR BARRY BURKE

The NSW Racehorse Owners Association (NSWROA) was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of longstanding NSWROA member Mr Barry Burke in February. A bloodstock insurance agent with Gow Gates Insurance Brokers, Barry was a great racing enthusiast with both racing and breeding interests and would rarely miss a Sydney meeting.

Barry would no doubt have been smiling from afar when one of his charges, Rogue Warrior, saluted at Warwick Farm the day following his funeral.

On behalf of the NSWROA Committee and our members, we extend our deepest sympathy to Barry’s family and friends.

"FALL OF HAMMER INSURANCE"

Our good friend and corporate partner Gow Gates Insurance Brokers, have kindly prepared, via Kingsley Edwards, B.Agr.Ec (Syd.), Dip.Fin.Serv. (Ins. Broking), ANZIIF (Snr. Assoc.), C.I.P., the following:

“Fall of Hammer” is a form of mortality insurance which takes effect when a lot is knocked down to the new owner at a public auction. The immediacy of this type of cover is therefore an essential risk management practice for buyers as it coincides with the risk passing from the vendor. Fall of Hammer policies have the added benefit that a Veterinary Certificate is not necessary because it is a condition of sale that horses are presented as sound, thereby satisfying the pre-requisite of the horse being in good heath and without pre-existing illness or injury at policy inception.

The Lloyd’s equine insurance policy covers the owner for the death of the horse due to accident or illness. It includes the horse being put down if it is injured or becomes sick in the circumstances where the vet certifies that the horse’s suffering is incurable and so excessive that immediate destruction is imperative for humane reasons.

The policy is intended to indemnify the owner for loss of their asset by paying the horse’s fair market value at the time when the incident occurred which resulted in the claim being made. The premium paid by the owner for the insurance policy is calculated as a percentage rate of the Sum Insured. The Sum Insured should represent the fair market value at any given time and is the maximum amount the policy will pay out in the event of a claim.

Fair market value for horses bought at sale is generally accepted as their purchase price until there is a change in the factors which substantially alter their worth, such as the performance of yearlings once they begin racing. The Sum Insured should therefore be monitored closely throughout the whole policy period.

Cover under the policy should also include the following features: transit anywhere within Australia (including transport from sale to their new home which may be a considerable distance such as an interstate trip); and surgery conducted by a qualified veterinarian under local or general anaesthetic (including gelding which most commonly occurs in the first year after purchase as a yearling at sale).
A mortality insurance policy is particularly relevant for yearlings in the twelve months following purchase at sale. Horses of this age are exposed to a unique set of risks which arise from being placed in an environment that is completely new to them. These include spending extended periods in a stable, breaking-in and training which all place such horses at a greater risk than those of seasoned racehorses.

To discuss arranging Fall of Hammer cover for the forthcoming Easter Yearling and/or Broodmare Sales, please contact Kingsley Edwards, Thoroughbred Insurance Manager at Gow-Gates on (02) 8267 9940 or kedwards@gowgates.com.au.

Disclaimer: The information in the above article is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon without reading the policy wording and seeking independent professional advice.