Latest News

The Australian Turf Club Foundation is granting a second round of funds to NSW racing participants and community organisations around its four Sydney racecourses.

A total of $128,651 from on-course fundraising, saddle cloth auctions and sales of merchandise at major racing carnivals will be distributed.

In less than its first 12 months of operation, the ATC Foundation has raised almost $200,000 for racing industry participants and registered charitable organisations.

The latest round of grants for the NSW racing industry are:

• $30,000 Tamworth Jockey Club (drought relief)
• $20,000 National Jockeys Trust
• $20,000 Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy

The $30,000 grant to Tamworth Jockey Club will be used to purchase hay bales for trainers and racing industry participants affected by drought across Northern NSW.

Further grants to organisations across Sydney and around Australian Turf Club’s four racecourses at Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens, Canterbury Park and Warwick Farm are:

• $20,000 The Shepherd Centre, a school for children with hearing loss
• $13,651 Canterbury Little Athletics Centre to purchase for sports equipment
• $10,000 Rainbow Club Australia, for children with special needs
• $10,000 Youth Insearch Australian Foundation, for youth at risk
• $5,000 The Jon Berne School, aiding child development

Australian Turf Club Foundation Chairman, Phil Morley, said as NSW’s principal thoroughbred racing club the ATC was proud to help racing and local communities across NSW.

“These latest grants to our racing industry participants will help many struggling with the ongoing and devastating impacts of drought,” Mr Morley said.

“The National Jockeys Trust and Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy also provide great assistance to many racing people.

“The ATC Foundation is also very pleased to help those who work and live in the communities around our racecourses and the fabulous causes they assist all year round.

“We will continue to invite expressions of interest from NSW thoroughbred racing clubs and participants, and charitable organisations, for the allocation of future funds raised by our customers and racing fans.”

The Honourable Kevin Anderson, Member for Tamworth and Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, supported the initiative.

“The impact of this drought has been unprecedented and its effect is spreading wide through regional communities like the one I live in,” Mr Anderson said.

“This is the kind of support that really matters among our owners and trainers.

“I know how much this donation from the Australian Turf Club will mean to many of our racing enthusiasts.”

NSW Trainers Association CEO, Glenn Burge, welcomed the support.

“The NSW Trainers Association is delighted the ATC Foundation has supported our request to assist trainers and their owners in the worst-hit drought region.”

Tamworth Jockey Club General Manager, Mitchell Shaw, said: “We are delighted and grateful for this support as every day we see first-hand the impact the drought has on trainers, their viability and the impact on their staff and families.”