Introduction:

As in all other Australian States the Western Australian racing industry provides breeding incentive schemes to foster and promote the local racing product.

Benefits of these schemes include:

• Potential to increase the financial rewards associated with owning and racing a locally bred horse and therefore encourage owners to remain in the industry longer and possibly extend the level of their investments.

• Encouragement for local breeders to source quality sires and/or dams in order to develop well bred progeny and improve Western Australian bloodlines.

• Provide breeders with the opportunity to access an on-going revenue stream from the yearlings they’ve previously sold, via their racing performances.

• Maintenance and possible growth of local support industries, eg farriers, veterinarians, feed merchants, product suppliers etc.

The W.A. Turf Club introduced the Westspeed Incentive Scheme at the beginning of the 2000/2001 racing season. Since then the WATC/RWWA have paid bonuses totalling in excess of $6 million to participants in the scheme. Last season alone (2005/06) bonus payments of $1.8 million were won.

How Does Westspeed Work?

Eligible horses are nominated for Westspeed during their yearling season (nominations close mid May of each year) and can earn bonuses in all races won in their own age group (barring Group Races) during their two and three year old seasons. Furthermore, from 1/8/07, Westspeed nominated horses can earn bonuses on any races they win over 1800 metres or more as three or four year olds in any company (excluding Group Races).

What are the Returns to Owners?

The following Westspeed bonuses currently apply to all two and three year old races.

Which Yearlings are Eligible?

The following rules must be satisfied for a horse to be eligible to participate in the Westspeed Incentive Scheme.

• A yearling must be a product of a sire standing in W.A. at the time the dam is served, or,

• A yearling can be the product of any sire provided the dam,

  1. was owned by a West Australian breeder at the time the yearling was conceived, or

  2. carrying that foal at the time she was purchased by a W.A. breeder.

   

How Do I Enter?

There are several ways in which a yearling can become a participant in Westspeed.

1. A breeder/owner may enter a horse privately. The nomination fee (breeder) is $550 (inc GST) and the declaration fee (owner) is $1100 (inc GST).

2. A breeder may enter a horse for the breeder's portion of the bonus only. This scenario is likely to occur when a horse is sold privately and the new owners do not wish to make the $1100 declaration payment. In this situation if the horse goes on to win a Westspeed race, the breeder will receive the breeder's bonus however the owners, because they have not paid the declaration amount, will not receive a Westspeed Bonus payment. Note: A horse must be breeder nominated for the owner to have the option of declaring for the Owner's Bonuses.

3. A breeder nominates his horse for Westspeed on the Magic Millions Premier/Autumn Yearling Sale Nomination Form. If accepted for the sales, this lot then carries the Westspeed logo in the sales catalogue and Magic Millions deduct the breeders nomination fee from the proceeds of sale. Purchasers of yearlings with the Westspeed logo then have the option to pay the Owner's Declaration fee direct to RWWA subsequent to the sales. Any yearlings which go through the yearling sales as non Westspeed nominated horses, cannot be nominated for the scheme subsequent to the sales. Any yearling showing the logo in the catalogue but passed in or any yearling not accepted for the sales can be nominated as per 1. above. 

The Big Winners So Far

    For more information contact Racing and Wagering W.A. on (08) 94455280

Westspeed: Rules and Conditions

Westspeed Incentive Scheme Rules and Conditions (PDF 55KB)