In a major boost to the Western Australian breeding industry, Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) has announced the introduction of two major initiatives with a major enhancement to the Westspeed Scheme and the introduction of the Mares Group & Listed Winners Incentive Scheme.

This new dual incentive follows receipt of a proposal from Thoroughbred Breeders WA and consultation between RWWA’s Racing Operations Committee and TBWA, these initiatives will be effective from the breeding season in 2014-15.

Both initiatives are aimed at improving and promoting Western Australian-owned stallions and retaining quality broodmares in WA, many of whom have been sold or served interstate over recent years to commence their breeding careers.

In a bid to halt the eastern states exodus a financial incentive will be provided to Group and Listed winning mares that are served by a paid up or nominated Western Australian stallion in her first year as a broodmare.

It will take the form of a subsidy payable to the registered breeder and dependent upon the level of black type achieved in the mares racing career.

PROPOSED INCENTIVE

Group winning mare Subsidy to a West Australian based breeder of 100% of the advertised service fee to a maximum of $15,000 for the mares first season as a broodmare.

Listed winning mare Subsidy to a West Australian based breeder of 50% of the advertised service fee to a maximum of $7,500 for the mares first season as a broodmare.

Payment would be made to the contact breeder registered with the Australian Stud Book upon lodgement of the first mare return.  Mares are only eligible to accrue a single subsidy, irrespective of the number of group and listed races won.

WESTSPEED INCENTIVE

The Westspeed Scheme was introduced in 2000 as a vehicle to promote Western Australian breeding but in recent years there has been a trend for WA-based breeders to send their better quality mares to interstate studs to access quality stallions available.

As a result the Westspeed Incentive Scheme will provide an additional owner’s bonus of $15,000 for a prime metropolitan win achieved by a horse out of a mare that is at least 50 per cent owned by a Western Australian breeder and sired by a nominated Western Australian based stallion.

Stallion owners will be required to pay an annual nomination fee equivalent to their advertised service fee or a minimum of $5,000, whichever is greater to be a WA nominated stallion.

All other tiers of Westspeed remain unchanged with the exception that from 1 August 2015 to be eligible for any category of Westspeed, the horse must be at least 50 per cent owned by a Western Australian breeder at the time the mare the foals.