QTOA Chairman's Report - September 2025

Dear Members,

As the Queensland racing industry awaits the outcomes from the soon to be delivered Queensland Racing Review, the Queensland Thoroughbred Owners Association (QTOA) has been in regular dialogue with the Minister’s office about being part of the consultation process.

With the review set to deliver important changes to the racing industry based on feedback taken from all stakeholders, the QTOA has reiterated the importance of ensuring owners - as well as other members of the Alliance in trainers and breeders - are consulted before any recommendations from the review are implemented.

Decisions that affect our industry cannot be made in isolation — they require genuine input from the people who live and breathe racing every day – and we are expecting to be part of the process in the weeks to come.

Our message remains consistent: owners form the backbone of this industry, and our perspectives and experiences are vital in ensuring that any reforms deliver a fair, sustainable and prosperous future for all participants.

We will continue to advocate strongly on your behalf, working constructively with government and industry stakeholders to make sure our members’ voices are heard. We will continue to update members on our progress.

As we highlighted to members earlier this year, our submission focussed on four key areas that we believe demand attention as part of the review, headlined by the need for increased positive marketing of the industry as part of an overall tourism strategy leading into the Olympics.

• Marketing and Promotion of Racing – With wagering in decline, we believe the industry in Queensland as a whole must do more to reinvigorate public interest in racing to ensure prizemoney levels can not only be sustained but grown into the future. A more innovative and targeted marketing approach is needed to attract new audiences and strengthen engagement with owners and punters.

• Representation on the RQ Board – Thoroughbred racing generates the majority of industry revenue, yet this is not representative of the make-up of the board. We are calling for greater representation of thoroughbred stakeholders with ‘skin in the game’ to ensure policies reflect the needs of our industry.

• Rising Costs of Ownership – Spiralling insurance premiums and welfare levies are adding to the financial burden of ownership. We are pushing for more transparency and solutions to curb rising costs while maintaining high welfare standards and safety.

• Regional Prizemoney – Racing in regional areas is vital to the industry, but prizemoney levels remain a concern. We are advocating for fairer distribution to support participation, field sizes, and the long-term sustainability of regional racing.

The future of Queensland racing depends on strong leadership and a commitment to owners, who invest heavily in the industry.

QTOA will continue to engage with government and Racing Queensland to ensure owners have a seat at the table in these discussions, and we will keep members updated as the review progresses.