FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

I am very pleased to highlight another great initiative for our industry this month – TAB Saddle-Up Sundays.

TAB Saddle-Up Sundays is an initiative of Racing NSW Country with TAB Limited the major sponsor and we congratulate and wish them every success for the program.

Designed to showcase country racing, TAB Saddle-Up Sundays will encompass 12 meetings, one in each month of the year, where the focus will be to involve the local community in their local raceday by bringing the town to life for the weekend.

A website which will focus on TAB Saddle-Up Sunday meetings has been developed which offers not only information on the race meetings, but accommodation options and things to see and do in the local area for visitors. The website is www.gocountryracing.com.au.

The first TAB Saddle-Up Sunday meeting is the popular Mollymook Cup run at Archer Racecourse, Nowra on Sunday 23 October 2011. See item later in the newsletter for further details.

Hereunder are the race clubs participating in the TAB Saddle-Up Sundays program:-

I encourage all members to support this wonderful initiative.

On behalf of our Members, NSWROA is grateful for the sponsorship and support of Luxbet.

LUXBET SPECIAL OFFER TO OWNERS & TRAINERS

$100 BONUS BET – JUST MAKE A FIRST DEPOSIT OF $25 OR MORE

Part of Australia’s premier gambling and entertainment group Tabcorp,
Luxbet is proud of its total support and commitment to the NSWROA and the Australian racing industry.

Luxbet is 100 percent dedicated to ensuring a viable future for Australian racing and its participants and will fully pays all fees and taxes as required.

In addition to this unwavering commitment to the industry Luxbet’s ClubXtra is the most comprehensive rewards program for individuals who like a punt on their own horse. Exclusive to racehorse owners and trainers, ClubXtra members pick up a 12% bonus on top of winnings when betting on a horse they own or train.

This means ClubXtra members have the industry leading products offered by Luxbet including Best Of The Best (best of Best Tote and Top Fluc) and LuxDiv (Best Tote and Starting Price) enhanced by an additional 12% bonus! There’s no other owner/trainer offer on the market to rival this.

If, as an owner or trainer you are looking for higher returns, plus the opportunity to support the industry you can't go past ClubXtra.

And if that doesn’t whet your appetite, here’s a special offer to help you kick-start your Luxbet account.

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Click here for more details or open a Luxbet account at www.luxbet.com
Alternately you can call our friendly customer service staff on 1300 LUXBET (1300 589 238).

IF YOU BET WITH A CORPORATE BOOKIE, CHOOSE LUXBET.COM

^ClubXtra Terms and Conditions apply, click here. Max $2,000 ClubXtra bonus per day. ClubXtra bonus must be turned over at odds of $1.90 or higher before you can withdraw the ClubXtra bonus from your Luxbet account. *Bonus Bet Terms and Conditions apply, click here. Offer available until cancelled by the Promoter. The Bonus Bet must be wagered as a single bet on a Fixed Odds market with a dividend of greater than $1.50 per $1 bet. If the Bonus Bet returns a winning dividend, those winnings (excluding the Bonus Bet stake) will be credited to your Luxbet account. Your Initial Deposit and any winnings accrued from the Bonus Bet must be turned over at least once (x1) on bets with a dividend of greater than $1.50 per $1 bet (the Minimum Turnover Threshold) within 90 days before any withdrawals from your account will be processed. If the Minimum Turnover Threshold is not met within 90 days of receipt of the Bonus Bet, the Bonus Bet (if not already used), or any winnings already accrued from the Bonus Bet, will be withdrawn from your Luxbet account. Must be over 18 years. Due to legislative restrictions, VIC and QLD residents are not eligible to receive the Bonus Bet. Maximum of one (1) Bonus Bet of $100 per account. Think! About your choices. Call your state based Gambling Help services on 1800 858 858. In NSW call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au In WA visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au Gamble responsibly.

NEW NATIONAL PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY REGIME

The new personal property security regime is scheduled to commence at the end of January.

In essence, the new laws seek to standardise all existing types of security interests over all types of property, except real estate. They will greatly streamline the process, and provide substantial efficiency benefits to business generally.

Item of property include, relevantly for readers, racehorses.

The industry has formed a working party of representatives of all principal racing authorities from all States and Territories, to assess the impact of the proposed measures on industry participants. Your Association has been represented at that working party, and has been an active participant in the deliberations.

The outcome of those deliberations has been to identify certain aspects of the proposed laws which require clarification before the laws commence.

Further details will be provided as they are available.

2011 NSW COUNTRY AND PROVINCIAL RACING AWARDS

The 2011 NSW Country and Provincial Racing Awards were held at Doltone House, Darling Island Wharf, Pyrmont on 30 September 2011 with a large audience in attendance.

The awards give recognition to individuals and clubs who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to improve and develop NSW Country and Provincial Racing.

Our congratulations to NSWROA members Terry Burke and Glenn and Viive Williams who were honoured on the night and indeed, to all award winners, finalists and nominees for their fantastic efforts during the 2010-2011 season.

Terry Burke was awarded the prestigious Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award. Terry served on the Racing NSW Country Board for 6 years (including 3 years as Vice Chairman) before retiring last year. He has served 25 years as a Committee member of the Hunter and North West District Racing Association and then Chairman for 12 years. As Chairman, Terry has demonstrated the capacity to lead by example and has encouraged Clubs to strive for optimum performance. He has also served on the Tamworth Jockey Club's Committee for 27 years with 7 years as President.

Glenn and Viive Williams are the very proud owners of Karuta Queen who was awarded the Country Horse of the Year Award. Karuta Queen had an outstanding 2010-2011 season recording 4 wins (including the Magic Millions 2YO Stakes) and a second placing (Listed CRC Black Opal Stakes) from her 6 starts for the season. She has carried that form into the new season with a Listed Race success (ATC Heritage Stakes), a second placing to World Champion Sprinter Black Caviar (G2 MRC Schillaci Stakes) and a third placing (G3 ATC San Domenico Stakes) from her four runs to date.

The full listing of COUNTRY recipients of Awards for 2011 are as follows:-

• Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award - Terry Burke

(L-R) Bob Pavitt, Kate Nivison & Terry Burke

• Country Horse of the Year Award - Karuta Queen

(L-R) Alan Bell, Neville Layt, Viive and Glenn Williams

• Country TAB Race Club of the Year - Scone Race Club
• Community Race Club of the Year - Talmoi Amateur Picnic Race Club
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Tullibigeal Picnic Race Club
• Country Trainer of the Year - Brett Bellamy
• Country Media Award - Gary Kliese
• Country Jockey of the Year - Greg Ryan
• Leading Country Apprentice Jockey - Samantha Munro

The PROVINCIAL recipients of Awards for 2011 are as follows:-

• Ted McCabe Provincial Recognition Award - John Fletcher
• Provincial Horse of the Year - Hay List
• Provincial Media Award - Greg Radley
• Provincial Trainer of the Year - Gwenda Markwell
• Provincial Jockey of the Year - Jeff Penza

FIRST TAB SADDLE-UP SUNDAY MEETING
23 OCTOBER 2011 – SHOALHAVEN CITY TURF CLUB
MOLLYMOOK CUP MEETING

Excitement is building for the inaugural TAB Saddle-Up Sunday meeting which is to be held at Nowra’s Archer Racecourse with the Mollymook Cup on Sunday 23 October.

Lynn Locke, CEO for Shoalhaven City Turf Club stated: “We are very excited to be staging the first Saddle-Up Sunday and it will be a tremendous boost to the local area. Already we have had a fantastic response from local businesses. We’re confident of attracting a big crowd not just to the race meeting, but to the town in general.”

As part of the initiative, prizemoney for the Mollymook Cup has been increased $2000 which will ensure a quality field lines up for the $14,000 event that also carries a BOBS bonus of up to $9000.

"In addition to the racing we have a Fashions on the Field competition with more than $3000 in prizes on offer with categories including Fashionable Filly, Elegant Lady and Best Dressed Gentleman as well as live entertainment and a jumping castle for kids. There will be something for everyone,” Ms Locke added.

Shoalhaven, on the NSW south coast, is home to pristine beaches, historic villages and the lush rainforests of Kangaroo Valley.

Visit the website – www.gocountryracing.com.au – for further information on the race meeting, accommodation and local activities to make a perfect weekend away.

HENDRA VIRUS – HORSE RELATED WORK ACTIVITES
– FACT SHEET

Members are advised that WorkCover NSW have provided the Association with a Fact Sheet they have produced relating to Hendra Virus.

Click here to view the fact sheet.

BOBS & BOBS EXTRA UPDATE

It may have taken a couple of years for owners and trainers to be persuaded of the benefits offered by paying $840 to nominate a horse for BOBS Extra, but the real value is now becoming apparent.

In the first two months of the 2011-12 racing season 33 BOBS Extra bonuses have been won, worth $242,500. That compares with 18 bonuses and $95,000 at this time last year.

Of course the value of BOBS Extra was always going to increase significantly this year, as only nominated 4-year-olds were in the running during 2010-11 whereas this year bonuses are available to both 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds.

Of the 33 bonuses, 23 have been won by horses aged 4 and ten by horses aged 5. Importantly 15 winners were scoring their maiden victories, so the BOBS Extra bonus has added substantially to the prize money for these slower maturing horses.

The majority of BOBS Extra bonuses are being won in country NSW, giving genuine support to owners and trainers whose horses compete for lesser stakes.

The 1600m Coonamble Cup on 9 October provided an excellent example of why it’s worth aiming horses for the BOBS Extra bonus. With total prize money of $30,000 the Cup attracted a $10,000 BOBS extra bonus, meaning the winner – if it was eligible – would have picked up a rewarding total of $29,500. Sadly in this case, the winner was the 5-year-old Tamworth trained Altonio, a gelding bred in New Zealand and so ineligible to be entered in the Racing NSW Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme.

When entries closed for BOBS 2011 there were 2800 nominations – a record figure. Of those, 1033 juveniles had been entered for BOBS Extra as well. That represents 37% of the total entry, a substantial increase on the past two years and a sign that owners can see the potential benefits of extending a horse’s career and tackling events of 1600 metres and longer.

Early leaders for this season on the list of BOBS winners are:

And to answer one of the most common questions we receive about payment of a BOBS bonus, the owners receive 80%, the stallion nominator 12.5%, the trainer 5% and 2.5% is paid to the Racing NSW Welfare and Benefits scheme for NSW Jockeys.

If you have any questions about BOBS or BOBS Extra, please call John Gatfield on (02) 9551 7574 or email jgatfield@racingnsw.com.au.

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.

The listing under comprises wins recorded in New South Wales as well as Australian black type successes which are recorded in bold type.

Accordingly, hereunder are the lucky NSWROA members who had winners in September 2011:

NSWROA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS – GOW GATES INSURANCE BROKERS

In this issue of the newsletter we are highlighting another of the benefits of NSWROA membership, the exclusive racehorse insurance package available from NSWROA corporate partner, Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers.

Gow Gates 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.

Gow-Gates has had a close relationship with NSWROA for the past 25 years, initiated by Anthony Gow-Gates, an owner and NSWROA member himself – who has had success in recent times with Anevay and was also a part owner of the 2000 AJC Derby winner, Fairway.

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.

To find out more about the NSWROA horse insurance package, please contact Kingsley Edwards of Gow-Gates’ Bloodstock Insurance Division, on (02) 8267 9940 or by email kedwards@gowgates.com.au.

Disclaimer: The information in the above article 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.

GENERAL

If you have you recently moved, changed your postal address or obtained an email address, it would be greatly appreciated if you could contact the office in order for our records to be updated.

Yours in Racing
Ray McDowell, President
14 October 2011