Racing NSW (on Sunday, 24th Nov) announced that its BOBS Scheme will be enhanced by the addition of a Platinum and Gold Category.
Commencing from January 2020, selected races will have a BOBS Platinum bonus of $100,000 or a BOBS Gold bonus of $50,000, offered for the winners of the race.
The existing BOBS bonuses will be referred to as BOBS Silver and will continue to apply to the races that already carry BOBS bonuses.
The BOBS Platinum and BOBS Gold races will be open to all horses that have been nominated for any BOBS series. Accordingly, it will now for the first time apply to horses aged four years and older.
The BOBS Platinum and BOBS Gold bonus races will be held at locations throughout NSW, in all sectors.
Owners winning BOBS Platinum bonuses may forego taking the payment in cash and double up their bonus to $160,000, which can be used to buy or breed a thoroughbred making the total BOBS Platinum bonus up to a possible $180,000.
Similarly, owners winning BOBS Gold bonuses may double up their cash bonus to $80,000, with the total BOBS Gold bonus offered, being up to $90,000.
| BOBS Platinum | BOBS Gold | ||||
| Cash | Double Up | Cash | Double Up | ||
| Total Bonus | $100,000 | $180,000 | $50,000 | $90,000 | |
| Owner | $80,000 | $160,000 | $40,000 | $80,000 | |
| Trainer | $5,000 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 | |
| Jockey | $2,500 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $1,250 | |
| Breeder | $12,500 | $12,500 | $6,250 | $6,250 | |
The BOBS Platinum and BOBS Gold bonuses will commence at Muswellbrook on Friday 3 January 2020, with new bonuses added to races at Kensington 4 January 2020, Royal Randwick 11 January 2020, Moruya on 17 January 2020, Tamworth on 23 January 2020 and Kembla Grange on 29 January 2020.
The opening schedule of BOBS Platinum and BOBS Gold races is summarised below.
BOBS Platinum and BOBS Gold Races January to March 2020
| Category | Date | Venue | Race | Distance | Prizemoney | BOBS (incl. DU) | Prizemoney/ BOBS incl. DU |
| Gold | 3-Jan-20 | Muswellbrook | BM66 | 1500m | $22,000 | $90,000 | $112,000 |
| Gold | 4-Jan-20 | Kensington | BM78 | 1300m | $125,000 | $90,000 | $215,000 |
| Gold | 11-Jan-20 | Royal Randwick | BM88 | 1400m | $125,000 | $90,000 | $215,000 |
| Gold | 17-Jan-20 | Moruya | BM66 | 1200m | $22,000 | $90,000 | $112,000 |
| Gold | 23-Jan-20 | Tamworth | Class 3 | 1000m | $30,000 | $90,000 | $120,000 |
| Platinum | 29-Jan-20 | Kembla Grange | Class 2 | 1500m | $35,000 | $180,000 | $215,000 |
| Gold | 13-Feb-20 | Wagga Wagga | Open | 1400m | $25,000 | $90,000 | $115,000 |
| Gold | 20-Feb-20 | Grafton | Maiden | 1400m | $22,000 | $90,000 | $112,000 |
| Platinum | 26-Feb-20 | Gosford | BM64 | 1600m | $35,000 | $180,000 | $215,000 |
| Gold | 6-Mar-20 | Dubbo | Class 3 | 1400m | $22,000 | $90,000 | $112,000 |
| Platinum | 13-Mar-20 | Kembla Grange | Class 2 | 1400m | $35,000 | $180,000 | $215,000 |
| Gold | 19-Mar-20 | Newcastle | BM64 | 1400m | $35,000 | $90,000 | $125,000 |
| Gold | 29-Mar-20 | Armidale | Class 2 | 1100m | $22,000 | $90,000 | $112,000 |
