SOLID progress is how Racing Queensland has described its first half results for the 2019/20 financial year.
Highlights from the year-to-date include:
- Healthy revenue growth (up 25.6 per cent to $139.4 million);
- A large increase in returns to participants (up 20.8pc to $104.1 million); and
- Improvement in attendances and participation (up 2.1pc to 332,496).
Late last year, RQ published its latest economic data which outlined the size and scope of the Queensland racing industry. The report demonstrated the industry's annual contribution to the state's economy had grown to more than $1.5 billion per annum - a 13 per cent increase from 2016/17 - while creating more than 2000 additional full-time jobs.
"The Queensland racing industry continues to make great strides thanks to the support and investment of the Palaszczuk government through its Country Racing Support Package and additional industry reform funding," RQ chairman Steve Wilson said.
"As a result, there has been strong economic growth in the size of our contribution to the Sunshine State including a significant uplift in jobs. During the first half of FY20, wagering turnover on Queensland product has reached a new half year record of $2.23 billion which represents a $64.8 million increase.
"With the Australian wagering market re-setting - and declines being realised in other racing territories across the nation - the Queensland performance highlights our commercial approach including the return of Eagle Farm, the successful non-TAB to TAB conversions and carnival innovations across all three codes.
"While turnover with corporate bookmakers has grown (3.5pc or $69.7 million), turnover declines were realised by QTAB (down 12.7pc or $101 million). As it stands, RQ remains insulated until the end of the calendar year through the provision of guaranteed QTAB payments. However, the much-publicised Tabcorp merger revenue benefits remains an ongoing concern," he said.
Increased revenue across codes
IMPORTANTLY, Racing Queensland reports revenue has also strongly increased across the codes, with Thoroughbreds (up 23pc) and harness (up 21pc) leading the way.
Returns to participants included an additional $15.4 million in prize money (up 22.8pc), $1.3 million for jockeys and drivers' fees (up 16pc) and $1.4 million for critical racing infrastructure and club funding (up 15pc).
"As our revenues increase, it's important that our returns to participants do likewise. The majority of the recent prize money increases have been returned to grassroot participants, sustaining the thousands of Queenslanders employed in the industry across the state," Mr Wilson said.
"With the TAB Queensland Summer Racing Carnivals recently concluding, the full results will be included in the third quarter dashboard. The new-look Thoroughbred carnival delivered pleasing results, with the introduction of The Wave and The Gateway complementing an enhanced Magic Millions program," he said.
The Star Magic Millions Raceday set a new Queensland turnover record of $58 million - eclipsing last year's mark of $57 million - while turnover for The Wave was $27 million, which was more than 30pc up on last year's corresponding meeting.
With the re-development of the Ipswich Turf Club to be completed this year - including new tie-up stalls and track upgrades - the replacement of the synthetic track at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club will also take place.
"With natural disasters including flood, fire and drought ravaging the state, the second half of FY20 is expected to be more modest, but will continue to be supported by important enhancements to our carnivals and further focus on country racing," Mr Wilson said.
Ten good reasons to start in Jewel
TEN horses will win prize money ranging from $300,000 to $6000 and only one will miss out if no more nominations are received for this Saturday's $500,000 QTIS 2YO Jewel (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Only 11 were received when nominations closed on Monday. With the race providing for 16 starters plus five emergencies, Queensland Racing officials extended nominations until 9am on Tuesday. If no more are received and all 11 start, then only one horse will miss out on prize money with the winner receiving $300,000 and horses placed sixth to 10th each receiving $6000. Seven of the current nominations are winners including Rothfire (G 2 Rothesay/Huss On Fire) - unbeaten in four metropolitan starts for Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote.
It's a different story in the $300,000 QTIS Jewel for 3YOs with 25 horses nominated for the 16-horse field plus five emergencies. The horses are drawn from Rockhampton to Sydney and west to Toowoomba. Four have handicap ratings above 80. They are:
- Master Jamie (G 3 Poet's Voice/Verkko) , Rockhampton, 88;
- Gem of Scotland (F Rothfire/Star Of Kristle), Toowoomba, 87.5;
- The Odyssey (C 3 Better Than Ready/Jessica's Hope), Brisbane, 85; and
- Guntantes (G 3 Rothesay/Cantantes), Brisbane, 82
Third feature race on the nine-race program is the $125,000 Listed Goldmarket Quality (1300m) which has attracted 24 nominations including popular grey gelding The Candy Man who tops the handicap rankings at 106 - 10 points ahead of veteran sprinter Chapter And Verse.
FNQ sprinter also has stamina
FAR North Queensland sprinter Windmill Lane has plenty of stamina in his pedigree yet his 16 wins in Queensland and Victoria have all been between at 1000m and 1200m.
His latest win came in a 1000m open handicap at Charters Towers last Saturday, which took his race record to 16 wins and 11 placings from 48 starts while his prize money has now passed $172,000. Although he's never started beyond 1400m, his durability is evident by the fact he's won every season for the past six seasons since he began racing a 3YO.
Owned and trained by Atherton-based Ricky Ludwig, Windmill Lane is by prepotent sire Written Tycoon from the Bluebird (USA) mare Jovial Lass. She is the dam of five winners including Group 1 Queensland Derby runner-up Lords A Leaping while her half-sister Turbo Lady is the dam of Group 1 New Zealand Derby winner Coniston Bluebird.
Windmill Lane began his racing career in Victoria after being bought for $50,000 at the 2013 Inglis Classic yearling sale in Sydney. Trained by Pat Hyland, he won races at Bairnsdale and Cranbourne before moving to far north Queensland where he's won a further 14 races including seven at Townsville.
Queensland benefits through Black Opal quinella
THE Group 3 Canberra Black Opal quinella of 2YO colts Barbaric and Bartley - both trained by Sydney-based father/son combination Peter and Paul Snowden - is a strong endorsement of the Queensland bloodstock industry.
Barbaric's dam Mimi Lebrock and grand-dam God Love It are both Queensland-bred as is Bartley's prolific sire Written Tycoon.
Both colts are 2019 Magic Millions yearling graduates with Barbaric selling for $900,000 and Bartley costing $660,000. Both yearlings were then syndicated by Newgate Bloodstock/China Horse Club with Queensland's Glenlogan Park buying into each colt. In fact, Glenlogan bought shares in all 25 yearlings syndicated by Newgate Bloodstock which also includes Aim and Rulership - both winners and Group placed.
By premier sire I Am Invincible, Barbaric is the fifth winner for Group 2 and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and Group 1 placed Mimi Lebrock while Bartley is the first foal of Flying Spur mare Rationality who is a five times winning sister to triple Group 1 winner Mentality who won the Champagne Stakes as a 2YO, the Randwick Guineas as a 3YO and the George Main Stakes as a 4YO - all over the testing 1600m at Randwick.
Barbaric has Group 3 winning family
LAST Sunday's Group 3 Canberra Black Opal winning 2YO colt Barbaric has become the fifth Group 3 winner in Australia and the US across three generations - all with strong ties with elite Queensland nursery Glenlogan Park, Innisplain.
A $900,000 yearling at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale when sold by Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW to China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Winstar Farm, Barbaric is by I Am Invincible from the Show A Heart mare Mimi Lebrock - winner of the 2007 Magic Millions 2YO Classic having being sold for $170,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions yearling sale.
A winner of more than $1.1 million on the track, Mimi Lebrock subsequently became a million dollar broodmare when sold for $1.025 million at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter broodmare sale. Indeed, her five yearling progeny since then have grossed $2.575 through the Magic Millions and Inglis sale rings.
Barbaric's first three dams - Mimi Lebrock, God Love It and Lyphard's Lady (USA) - were all either foaled or resided at Glenlogan Park. Little wonder, Glenlogan Park took a share in Barbaric when he was syndicated after the yearling sale!
Imported from Ireland in 1995, Lyphard's Lady was a stakes-placed daughter of outstanding Northern Dancer racehorse and sire Lyphard. Having produced five winners in the US, Ireland and France, she only had two foals in Australia - iron gelding King Lyphard (King's Theatre) who started 139 times for 11 wins and 25 placings and his older half-sister God Love It (St Covet) bought as a yearling by Gold Coast businessman Phil Byers.
A solitary winner at Wyong, God Love It proved better as a brood mare for Byers with her seven foals to race all winners. Three were Group 3 winners - Mimi Lebrock, Heavenly Thought and Shoko. However Mimi Lebrock went another rung up the ladder by winning the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield having earlier won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. A second crop daughter of Glenlogan's prolific sire Show A Heart, Mimi Lebrock has now produced five winners - her latest being Barbaric who now has two wins from three starts for Peter and Paul Snowden.