❓ Mr. McGrath asks the Minister for Racing and Gaming about the future of the Australasian Inter Dominion Championship and its connection to Perth. The Minister confirms Perth will host the championship for the next three years with a significant prize pool, boosting tourism and the WA racing industry.
AnsweredQoN 682Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AUSTRALASIAN
INTER DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP
682. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
My question is a
change of pace. The Australasian Inter Dominion Championship is one of the
great pacing series of the world. Could the minister outdate —
Several members interjected.
Mr J.E. McGRATH : I wonder whether the minister can update
the house —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just repeat the question.
Mr J.E. McGRATH : As we all know, the Inter Dominion pacing
championship is one of the great pacing series of the world, and it has been
won by many famous Western Australian horses. I believe there has been a major
announcement today about the future of the Inter Dominion Championship that
involves our great City of Perth.
INTER DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP
682. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
My question is a
change of pace. The Australasian Inter Dominion Championship is one of the
great pacing series of the world. Could the minister outdate —
Several members interjected.
Mr J.E. McGRATH : I wonder whether the minister can update
the house —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just repeat the question.
Mr J.E. McGRATH : As we all know, the Inter Dominion pacing
championship is one of the great pacing series of the world, and it has been
won by many famous Western Australian horses. I believe there has been a major
announcement today about the future of the Inter Dominion Championship that
involves our great City of Perth.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for
South Perth for his question.
Before I answer his
question, on behalf of the member for Moore, I acknowledge the principal and
students from Perenjori Primary School who are in the gallery today—welcome
to Parliament.
I thank the members
for South Perth, Belmont and Collie–Preston who were with me earlier
today when I made this announcement. As the member for South Perth said, the
Australasian Inter Dominion Championship is one of the world's great
harness racing events. It brings together pacers from not only Australia, but
also New Zealand and around the world. It was the brainchild of James Brennan
and J.P. Stratton—great harness racing administrators of Western
Australia. I think that the first Inter Dominion Championship was run at
Gloucester Park back in 1936. Until 2012, the hosting of this annual two-week
series rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North
and South Islands of New Zealand. However, in 2012 the championship moved away
from that rotational format to a bidding format. Sydney was the first
successful bidder and held the right to the event in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The
bidding process for the next three years has just concluded. I was very pleased
to announce this morning that a joint bid by Gloucester Park Harness Racing and
Racing and Wagering Western Australia will see the Inter Dominion Championship
series return to Gloucester Park, the home of harness racing in WA, for the
next three years. Not only that; I also announced that the total stakes
on offer for the first of the three series will be $1.8 million, with the
finalists racing for $1.3 million. That is a huge purse and will make it the
richest pacing event in the world. This is a real coup for WA and for harness
racing in this state. The opportunity for us to host this event is really
exciting, and it will bring great benefits to the state. Not only will the eyes
of the harness racing world be upon us, but also it will attract people from
interstate and around the globe and will be a huge boost to tourism and
hospitality businesses.
We have a very proud history in Western Australia, as I said,
of hosting the first Inter Dominion and harness racing series back in 1936. We
have produced fantastic winners—I am sure members will remember these
names—such as Binshaw, San Simeon, Preux Chevalier, Village Kid and, of
course, the recent champion, Im Themightyquinn, a three-time winner. It is
fantastic for the state of Western Australia to be able to do that.
The government is also aware of the contribution that harness
racing makes to Western Australia, and hosting this prestigious event only
makes that more prominent. The government certainly supports it. I think
harness racing has been really smart with the timing. It will start in November
next year, which links in with our thoroughbred group 1 carnival period. With
thoroughbred racing, harness racing and greyhounds, we will have three
magnificent events and we will own racing around Australia for that period. I
really look forward to the event. I am sure we will get great support. Well
done to RWWA and Gloucester Park because they have done a great job in securing
this event.
South Perth for his question.
Before I answer his
question, on behalf of the member for Moore, I acknowledge the principal and
students from Perenjori Primary School who are in the gallery today—welcome
to Parliament.
I thank the members
for South Perth, Belmont and Collie–Preston who were with me earlier
today when I made this announcement. As the member for South Perth said, the
Australasian Inter Dominion Championship is one of the world's great
harness racing events. It brings together pacers from not only Australia, but
also New Zealand and around the world. It was the brainchild of James Brennan
and J.P. Stratton—great harness racing administrators of Western
Australia. I think that the first Inter Dominion Championship was run at
Gloucester Park back in 1936. Until 2012, the hosting of this annual two-week
series rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North
and South Islands of New Zealand. However, in 2012 the championship moved away
from that rotational format to a bidding format. Sydney was the first
successful bidder and held the right to the event in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The
bidding process for the next three years has just concluded. I was very pleased
to announce this morning that a joint bid by Gloucester Park Harness Racing and
Racing and Wagering Western Australia will see the Inter Dominion Championship
series return to Gloucester Park, the home of harness racing in WA, for the
next three years. Not only that; I also announced that the total stakes
on offer for the first of the three series will be $1.8 million, with the
finalists racing for $1.3 million. That is a huge purse and will make it the
richest pacing event in the world. This is a real coup for WA and for harness
racing in this state. The opportunity for us to host this event is really
exciting, and it will bring great benefits to the state. Not only will the eyes
of the harness racing world be upon us, but also it will attract people from
interstate and around the globe and will be a huge boost to tourism and
hospitality businesses.
We have a very proud history in Western Australia, as I said,
of hosting the first Inter Dominion and harness racing series back in 1936. We
have produced fantastic winners—I am sure members will remember these
names—such as Binshaw, San Simeon, Preux Chevalier, Village Kid and, of
course, the recent champion, Im Themightyquinn, a three-time winner. It is
fantastic for the state of Western Australia to be able to do that.
The government is also aware of the contribution that harness
racing makes to Western Australia, and hosting this prestigious event only
makes that more prominent. The government certainly supports it. I think
harness racing has been really smart with the timing. It will start in November
next year, which links in with our thoroughbred group 1 carnival period. With
thoroughbred racing, harness racing and greyhounds, we will have three
magnificent events and we will own racing around Australia for that period. I
really look forward to the event. I am sure we will get great support. Well
done to RWWA and Gloucester Park because they have done a great job in securing
this event.
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