Racing SA reclassifies Port Lincoln and Mount Gambier meetings
Racing SA has confirmed that race meetings conducted by the Port Lincoln Racing Club and Mount Gambier Racing Club will be reclassified as country meetings from the start of the 2026/27 season,
The change applies only to the classification of race meetings and will have no impact on prize money, club funding or existing race programming.
Racing SA chief executive Nick Bawden said the decision was an administrative adjustment designed to improve consistency for participants, particularly apprentice jockeys, while maintaining the importance of both clubs within the state’s racing landscape.
“This is an administrative classification change and does not alter the important role that Port Lincoln and Mount Gambier play within the South Australian racing industry,” Bawden said.
“Both clubs will continue to conduct their racing programs as planned, with prize money and club funding maintained.”
Bawden said the revised structure would align classifications across regional racing areas, including the Eyre Peninsula and Port Augusta, eliminating situations where apprentices could claim different riding allowances on the same horses at meetings within the same region.
The move is also expected to provide additional country riding opportunities for apprentices.
During the 2025/26 racing season, approximately 18 per cent of South Australia’s TAB meetings were classified as country, compared with 50 per cent provincial and 32 per cent metropolitan.
Following the change, country meetings will account for about 31 per cent of TAB fixtures, with provincial meetings decreasing to 37 per cent while metropolitan meetings remain unchanged at 32 per cent.
