NSW bolts away with $420m prizemoney payout

Racing NSW Chair Saranne Cooke has proudly trumpeted NSW Racing remains the leader in Australian racing returning over $110 million more to participants than any other state in 2024-25.

For the past decade, NSW has focused on giving greater returns; the $420 million in returns reported in the Australian Racing Fact Book 2025 dwarfed all other states.

NSW runs more races than any other state and also leads on average return per race. It’s a massive turnover after Victoria led NSW by $7.3 million 10 years ago.

“NSW racing is strong. It is financially secure. And right now, it is delivering record returns to the people who give this sport its heart and soul,” Cooke said in the Chairman’s update.

“Our job, my commitment to you, is to protect what we have built and keep pushing it forward, for every participant who depends on a thriving industry.”

NSW has returned more than $3 billion to the industry, with the next-best state returning $2.6 billion over the 10-year period.

Cooke said the returns were “achieved through disciplined financial management, strategic investment, and a clear focus on maximising returns to participants.”

She also reaffirmed Racing NSW’s commitment to retain prizemoney levels through its $104 million in reserves, but stated these reserves were not needed this year.