The Victoria Racing Club is pleased to announce the 2011 TROA/LUXBET Winter Championship Series, and as part of its new sponsorship, TROA and LUXBET will bring a new dimension in 2011 with the addition of a $50,000 bonus that will be made available to the winner of the final, under certain conditions.

The Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners’ Association (TROA) and its major partner, Luxbet.com, are joining forces to take the series to a new level.

The 2011 TROA/LUXBET Winter Championship Series Heats will be run at Flemington, Cranbourne, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Hamilton between 15 May and 3 July, with outstanding prizemoney of $40,000 per provincial heat and $75,000 for each Flemington Heat. The Series will culminate with the $202,000 Final, to be run at Flemington on Saturday 9 July – Flemington Finals Day.

All horses participating in the 2011 TROA/LUXBET Winter Championship Series Heats will be awarded points according to judge’s placings. The leading points scorer is eligible for the $50,000 bonus if it then wins the TROA/LUXBET Winter Championship Series Final. This bonus should entice connections to compete in the heats on the way through to the final.

Connections of the leading points scorer will also be rewarded with a fantastic prize - a catered corporate suite for 24 people, on Girls’ Day Out at Flemington on 3 September 2011, courtesy of the Victoria Racing Club.

It is interesting to note that the previous five winners of the Winter Championship Final have all won their last two starts leading into the final, with only one of these starts being a heat of the series. Had these wins been part of the series these horses would have all gone into the final as the leading or equal leading point scorer – and subsequently would have won the proposed $50,000 bonus. This is a great incentive for trainers to consider heats in the lead up to the Final.

TROA Chairman Andrew Lafontaine said, “TROA is delighted to be sponsoring this series in conjunction with our major partner, Luxbet, and to add value for owners through a $50,000 bonus. The VRC has done a wonderful job with this series since its inception, and we are proud to be supporting it.”

VRC General Manager Sponsorship, Brendan Ford, said: “The Club is very pleased to welcome TROA and Luxbet as sponsor partners to this popular race series that has stood the test of time. The new bonus for the series’ highest point scorer will help to give it even more impetus.”

VRC General Manager Racing, James Earls, said: “The TROA/LUXBET Winter Championship Series will again be a racing highlight of the Victorian winter. The Final of the Series is a quality race year by year, proven by recent winners such as Gold Salute and Sea Battle, which were later placed in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington, and last year’s winner Doubtful Jack, which saluted in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality at his next start.”

Past winners/leading point scorer in the Winter Championship Series:

Year	Winner (points)	Leading Point Scorer (points)	Placing in Final	SP
2010	DOUBTFUL JACK (10)	JUNGLE RULER (20)	14th	$21
2009	GOLD SALUTE (10)	SENSATIONAL TOY (18)	Did not start	-
2008	SEA BATTLE (10)	PROSPECT (23)	8th	$151
2007	HILLSTON EXCHANGE (11)	HADDLE MCDADDLE (20)	3rd	$7
2006	CHITABE (10)	HILLSTON EXCHANGE (19)	3rd	$21

Points Allocation (all Heats):

Place	Points
First	10 points
Second	8 points
Third	7 points
Fourth	6 points
Fifth	5 points
Sixth	4 points
Seventh	3 points
Eighth	2 points
Others	1 point

For further information please contact:

Peter Jurkovsky, TROA Executive Secretary on 0409 588 182

James Earls, VRC General Manager Racing on 03 8378 0720