TBS owners enjoy holiday bonuses

Owners, nominators and trainers of horses qualified for the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme have enjoyed rich holiday pickings, collecting $64,125 since 23 December. That's on top of the increased base prizemoney which has kicked in this season, following the introduction of reduced taxation on betting.
Three A bonuses, worth $10,950 to each winner, have been struck, by two-year-olds Jacob at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and Emily Jane, who led home a TBS trifecta at Woodville on 6 January; and three-year-old Triplebank, from G1 winner It's My Sin, on 23 December at Awapuni. The A bonus was an especially good Christmas present for Don Walker who keeps all of the winner's share of the bonus, as Jacob's owner, breeder and trainer.

O'Reilly and Stravinsky have done best of the sires represented on the TBS holiday winners' list to date, with their progeny earning total bonuses of $16,425 and $4725 respectively.

So far this season a total of $319,800 TBS prizemoney has been won, distributed across the three age-groups as follows:

2yos - $72,300
3yos - $140,400
4yos - $107,100 |

So far the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme has rewarded 34 individual winners, 32 runners-up and 38 third placegetters.

Eight TBS bonus races are scheduled for the remainder of January, at Te Rapa tomorrow, then Avondale, Trentham, Gore ("A" Bonus race) Rotorua and Riccarton Park.

Saturday 23 December









- Susan Archer