The Birdsville Race Club has today announced what it believes may be the single biggest trainer bonus in the history of racing in Outback Queensland.
The Birdsville Race Club has announced a bonus of up to $15,000 to a trainer that wins both April and September editions of the TAB Birdsville Cup.
“A lot of trainers, and I’m including some of country Queensland’s best in this, would have to race horses for 12 months to collect the sort of dollars in winning percentages to pick up what we’re now offering at the Birdsville Races this year. We’re celebrating a history making two events in 2022 and we want to recognise and reward those that contribute to making our event such a great success,” Gary Brook, Vice President, Birdsville Race Club.
Winning the $15,000 trainers bonus across both the April and September events is the equivalent to the trainer’s percentage of winning 25 non-TAB races in country Outback Queensland.
“The fact that horses will be racing only five months apart also increases the chance of taking out a big double on the TAB Birdsville Cup to bring home the big $15,000 prize. It’s usually twelve months before trainers have another chance for a second Cup win in Birdsville. This year with the two races so close together presents a unique opportunity, and perhaps for better odds of taking out both editions of the TAB Birdsville Cup,” added Gary Brook.
We’re the most remote race track in Australia – so given what’s happening with rising fuel costs the Club has also made the decision to offer all our trainers and jockeys an additional one off travel rebate to offset the increased cost of fuel.”
A special new $2000 bonus will also be offered to any trainer that trains a double at the April Birdsville Races.* An additional $2,000 bonus will also be paid if a trainer wins both feature races of the carnival – the $25,000 Lyndhurst Stud Open Handicap on Sunday 10 April 2022, and the $42,000 TAB Birdsville Cup on Monday 11 April 2022.
In addition to the $2,000 trainer bonuses the Birdsville Race Club will also offer the following for the April 2022 races:
- $300 one off fuel rebate to each trainer participating in the April event, which is in addition to the already announced $120 per horse per start to trainers
- $100 one off fuel rebate to each jockey which is in addition to the already announced $250 travel rebate
- $1000 to the winning trainer based on most wins over the two-day carnival (this payment was previously $350)
- $500 to the winning jockey based on most wins over the two-day carnival (this payment was previously $350)
While the April bonuses are attractive, it’s the big $15,000 bonus that is expected to excite trainers.
The winning trainer of the September 2022 TAB Birdsville Cup will be eligible to receive up to $15,000 in bonuses.
The breakdown of this bonus is:
- $15,000 if a trainer wins both the April and September 2022 TAB Birdsville Cup with the same horse, or
- $10,000 if a trainer wins both the April and September 2022 TAB Birdsville Cup, but with different horses, or
- $5,000 if any trainer has one or more starters in a race at the April Birdsville Races and goes on to win the September 2022 TAB Birdsville Cup.
Nominations for the April 10 & 11 races will close this Friday 1 April 2022 – April Fool’s Day.
“The only April fools however might be those that miss the opportunity to cash in on the bumper prize money and bonuses on offer in 2022,” joked Gary Brook
These bonuses will be on top of the record high prize money already on offer for the Birdsville Races with a combined tally of $262,500 up for grabs across the two days of racing. The TAB Birdsville Cup prize money has increased to $42,000, with overall prize money up 12 per cent.
“The prizemoney on offer in Birdsville in 48 hours in April is equivalent to six consecutive weeks of normal non-TAB racing in Country Queensland,” said Gary Brook.
Tickets are still available for the April 10 & 11 races at www.birdsvilleraces.com
Tickets to the September event will go on sale on Monday 2 May 2022.
The Birdsville Race Club will follow Racing Queensland’s COVID safe requirements, mandating that all race goers be double vaccinated to attend race meets in Queensland.
