The Racing Operations Committee has approved RWWA Racing management’s recommendation to combine the State Sires Series (SSS) and Westbred breeding incentive schemes into one mare’s based scheme. The new scheme will retain the WestBred brand name and whilst providing a fairer distribution of the breeding incentive bonuses, will be a significant incentive for breeders to further improve the quality of the WA standardbred.
The decision will not impact on the State Sires Series until the completion of the 3 year old racing season for foals born in 2009/10.
Under the new WestBred scheme any foal Born, Notified, Registered and Branded in Western Australia is eligible for the bonuses.
The review, which commenced in 2006 and involved unprecedented consultation with stakeholders, was undertaken to determine if RWWA’s significant investment in the breeding incentive schemes was achieving value for money in terms of overall improvement in the quality of the standardbred breed in Western Australia.
There is no doubt that the performance of the WA harness racing industry has improved dramatically under the governance of RWWA, and this includes the breeding industry which has shown a greater resurgence in WA than other Australian states.
The new WestBred scheme will combine the funding of the SSS and Westbred, which in the 2008/09 season is in excess of $1.4M and is equal to 8.27% of the total base stake distribution.
Bonuses from the new WestBred scheme will commence with the progeny of the 2009/10 breeding season when they race as 2 year olds in the 2012/13 season (i.e. Foals born in 2010/11).
One of the significant improvements on the current schemes will see a first win bonus of $2,000 to the owner of a WestBred eligible 4 year old or older which has not previously won a bonus and a $1,000 bonus to the registered breeder for the first win recorded by a WestBred eligible horse regardless of age.
The most significant improvement is the introduction of the $100,000 WestBred Classics each season commencing with two Classics in the 2012/13 season; one for 2 year fillies and one for 2 year colts/geldings. Subsequent seasons will see the introduction of the $100,000 WestBred Classics for 3 year old fillies and 3 year old colts/geldings. A bonus will also be paid to the registered breeder of the horses placed first ($5,000), second ($3,000) and third (2,000) in each of the Westbred Classics.
The bonus payment schedule remains the best value for money of any Australia breeding incentive scheme.
The bonus for winning a normal WestBred eligible race is as follows –
| Bonus | Stake | First | Second | Third | Fourth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,250 | $3400 - $5499 | $2,275 | $650 | $325 | |
| $3,250 | $5,500 to $10,000 | $2,275 | $650 | $325 | |
| $6,250 | $10,001 to $19,999 | $4,250 | $1,125 | $575 | $300 |
Matthew Skipper
Manager Harness Racing
