Racing Queensland and the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association (TBQA) have reached agreement on a new QTIS structure to be implemented from August 2012.

The new scheme is a hybrid version of the previous QTIS and QTIS 600 schemes and delivers total benefits of $8.88 million to eligible two and three-year-olds, as follows;

Metropolitan – 75 x $40,000 bonuses will be allocated to the two and three-year-old races at each Saturday and public holiday metropolitan meeting, with base prizemoney less than $100,000.

Provincial – 305 x $15,000 bonuses will be allocated to provincial TAB meetings.

Country – 185 x $5000 bonuses will be allocated to non-TAB meetings.

This means eligible two and three-year-olds will compete in applicable races for a minimum of $90,000 at metropolitan meetings, $25,000 at provincial meetings and $11,000 at strategic non-TAB meetings.

Additionally, the following restricted race series will be implemented throughout regional Queensland for eligible horses.

TWO-YEAR-OLD
$50,000 – Townsville
$50,000 – Rockhampton
$30,000 – Mackay
$30,000 – Cairns
$30,000 – Emerald

THREE-YEAR-OLD
$50,000 – Townsville
$50,000 – Rockhampton
$30,000 – Mackay
$30,000 – Cairns
$30,000 – Roma

Both Queensland bred and breed back eligibility will remain the only eligibility criteria, although Racing Queensland had proposed to enable non-Queensland bred horses entry into the scheme for a significantly increased registration fee, this proposal was not supported by the TBQA.

RQL chairman Bob Bentley thanked TBQA Chairman Basil Nolan after the negotiations were completed.  “Mr Nolan acted in the best interests of the broader racing industry, recognising Racing Queensland’s obligations to all industry groups across the three-codes of racing,” Bentley said.

“This new scheme addresses Racing Queensland’s concerns regarding declining registrations, whilst delivering increased stakeholder benefits.”

Horses currently eligible for the QTIS and QTIS 600 schemes will retain their eligibility with the current benefits of QTIS being continued until the completion of the four-year-old season for eligible horses and QTIS 600 continued until the completion of the three year old season for eligible horses.

To be eligible for the new scheme two payments are required the first payment by October 1 in the horse’s yearling year and the second by June 30, also in the horse’s yearling year.  

The payment structure for the payments required by October 1.
Queensland bred – $350 + gst
Breed back – $900 + gst

Those yearlings where a payment has not been received by October 1 can still be eligible for the scheme.  There is a two tiered structure depending on whether the October registration was undertaken, and whether the yearling is Queensland bred, or eligible via the breed back component of the scheme.

For more information please contact the racing department of Racing Queensland on (07) 3869 9777.