Racing and Wagering Western Australia is supporting race winning mares in Western Australia through Westspeed EPONA, a credit scheme designed to enhance the local thoroughbred breeding industry in WA.

How it works

• 10% of winning prizemoney will be accumulated as a line of breeding credit,
• Local breeders and owners can redeem credits once $2,500 worth has been accumulated,
• Payment is made by RWWA directly to the Stud upon attainment of a positive 45-day pregnancy test.

What horses are eligible?

• Any filly or mare who wins a WA race, excluding community meetings.

How much can my horse earn?

• Credits can be redeemed once $2,500 worth has been accumulated, up to a maximum of $10,000.

Westspeed EPONA forms part of RWWA’s $6.8 million in additional Westspeed funding, to boost the thoroughbred breeding industry from FY21 to FY23.

RWWA has brought the initiative forward to support the breeding environment following COVID-19, with fillies and mares accumulating credits from 1 August 2019 available to be redeemed from the 2020 breeding season, to use towards Westspeed Platinum Stallion service fees for their first two seasons at a stud or three years – whichever is the lesser.

Conditions of EPONA:

• 10% of advertised winning stakes can be accumulated as a line of breeding credit by any filly or mare who wins a WA race (excluding community meetings). E.g. should a mare win a $70,000 race, the advertised winning stake is $41,300 – therefore the mare would accumulate $4,130 towards her breeding credit on top of the stake money won.
• The amount is in addition to the advertised winning stake.
• The monies are a notional provision calculated by RWWA, to be utilised only once the Owner claims for reimbursement against the scheme via the EPONA Claim Form.
• Breeding credits are capped to a maximum of $10,000, and can only be redeemed once $2,500 worth of credits have been accumulated.
• Payment is made by RWWA directly to the Stud upon attainment of a positive 45-day pregnancy test.
• Payment to the stud is made on the condition that a ‘free return’ for that mare is provided if the mare fails to deliver a live foal.
• The credits are “attached” to the mare who earned them and are not transferrable.
• The credits do not have to be used within a single breeding season, however are only valid for the mare’s first two (2) seasons at stud or three (3) years – whichever is the lesser. With the exception that if a broodmare misses (served but did not conceive) the credit will extend out to the subsequent breeding season.
• Should the mare become deceased or cannot reproduce, any existing credits will be lost.
• Mare Owners can only redeem the accumulated credit through the payment of Westspeed Platinum Stallion service fees.
• While mares may accrue Breeding Credits from the 1 August 2019, payment of Breeding Credits may only be redeemed from 1 August 2020.
• The EPONA Scheme will be reviewed periodically. RWWA has the discretion to change, amend or cancel the scheme at its discretion.