News

Everyone's A Winner: owners set to reap rewards of new loyalty scheme

9th Dec 2009

Sydney Morning Herald - Craig Young - Wednesday, 9 December 2009

RACING NSW is putting the finishing touches to a new loyalty program which the ruling body envisages will halt a decline in racehorse ownership with new players lured on board.

The Racing Rewards program is due to be implemented next month with current owners set to enjoy having the monthly bill downsized.

''This is a new and exciting initiative that will reward people that put money into racing,'' Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said yesterday.

The driving force behind the concept is Racing NSW board member Kim Harding.

''Another big factor is Kim has been able to negotiate a deal with Mastercard, Visa and American Express where people can transfer their reward points from those companies to the program,'' V'landys said.

''Racing wins here because there is $8 billion worth of unused points out there. Hopefully people will take their accrued points away from these entities and buy a racehorse, use their points to get a horse trained, it may cost nothing to have a horse trained.''

V'landys also said ''Racing NSW may regularly program races worth $70,000 with 50,000 reward points''.

Apart from trainers, studs and players in racing being part of the rewards scheme, V'landys is confident ''hundreds of commercial partners'' will join up for the ride. ''You may buy a horse at a sale and receive points,'' V'landys said. ''You may secure a service fee from a stud and receive points, you pay the horse trainer and points are returned. If you have a bet you will be rewarded.

''Race clubs will also be a part of the scheme, there will be any number of rewards for those investing in a vibrant racing industry. It is a great concept. This is the brainchild of Kim Harding, she has the framework up and management, headed by Victoria Samba, is now implementing the system. It is due to be implemented in January.''

Earlier this week, V'landys announced well known race player Veronica King had been appointed ownership promotions coordinator for Racing NSW. ''We're trying to promote ownership of horses, especially trying to get new people into syndicates and Veronica will manage that,'' V'landys said.