Racing Queensland boss Jason Scott warns rising insurance fees is biggest threat to Australian racing

Racing Queensland boss Jason Scott is waging a war to fend off a host of threats to the sport, but it isn’t coming from green groups or anti-racing crusaders.

Jason Scott is fighting a battle to keep the industry insured. Picture: Richard Walker

The biggest threat to racing in Australia doesn’t come from green groups or anti-racing crusaders, it comes from insurers instead.

Racing Queensland boss Jason Scott said it is the sleeping giant in Australian racing as officials scramble to slow down the soaring costs of insuring the industry.

As one of the only sports in the world that has an ambulance following its every move, Scott said race clubs are finding it harder than ever to find suitable insurance to host meetings.

“It is hard in the city, but once you get out of the city it is very troublesome,” a frank Scott said.

“There are less and less insurers willing to give race clubs public liability insurance.

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“Jockeys struggle to get income protection insurance, which is over and above what WorkCover can provide them.

“WorkCover has a maximum amount they will pay, so especially these bigger guys who earn more money, it is hard to find.

“It is getting more and more expensive, to the point where many insurers are no longer offering products that they used to.

“The ones that are providing it are charging more.”

Bush racing is hardest to cover for race clubs. Picture: Roxy Weston RLR Photography

Scott put the issue on the agenda during a recent estimates hearing in Queensland parliament and doubled down again this week on his thoughts.

“What we need to understand as a racing industry is that the minimum standards and expectations in 2024 are not even what they were in 2018,” Scott said.

“I would suggest one of the greatest challenges to racing in the next 10, 20 or 30 years is insurance.

“It is on us to make racing safer to make sure there are less claims.

“The less injuries to horses, less injuries to people, the better it is for everyone.

“That has to be done from Eagle Farm to the smallest track in Australia.

“This is a point that is missed by a lot of people, I talk to a lot of people in racing and they think I’m mad when I say it, but I speak to these insurers and it is clear that it is getting harder.”

LICENCE LAPSED

Queensland chief steward Josh Adams has clarified the situation in racing regarding apprentice jockey Sariah Champkin.

Champkin was last week found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm in a case heard in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

It had been alleged the jockey was involved in an argument and punched her former roommate several times and scratched her with horse grooming scissors.

Champkin was placed on a 12-month probation order and no conviction was recorded.

Adams clarified that Champkin’s riding licence had currently lapsed and, as such, she was not permitted to ride.

He said the court matter could be taken into account by licensing authorities as part of the process if Champkin wanted to ride again.

Originally published as Racing Queensland boss Jason Scott warns rising insurance fees is biggest threat to Australian racing