Kempsey horse trainer Barry 'Redback' Ratcliff is joining a chorus of horse owners and trainers across country NSW asking for Racing NSW to wake-up or smell the manure.

“A win in Sydney far out ways a win in the country,” Mr Ratcliff said.

“We are only getting approximately $8200 a win, while a win in Sydney gets approximately $12,000, which is a hell of a difference."

Mr Ratcliff said it was hard to find owners, with very few now buying horses because the fees have got out of hand.

“The owners pay about $2000 a month and it takes about three months to get the horse right, so it can cost as much as $6000,” Mr Ratcliff said. 

“Then the horse has to keep racing to win and a few hundred more dollars come out due to trainer's and jockey fees, plus insurance."

In 2012, Racing NSW increased prize money by 50 per cent; however, Mr Ratcliff told The Macleay Argus it was not enough.

“Since the highways are getting better in the country, the Sydney trainers, instead of selling their horses to the people in the country, are coming up here for the prize money which makes it difficult for country owners and trainers to compete - let alone win,” Mr Ratcliff said.

“In country racing, 1 in 50 horses are good enough to go to Sydney in the provincials.

"Other than that, we are just banging our head against the door."

Mr Ratcliff fears that if things do not change, owners and trainers will just close and get out of the industry.

“I would say in the last year at least 100 trainers in country NSW have just given it away because they can’t afford to keep a horse,” Mr Ratcliff said.

“Racing NSW needs to increase the prize money or otherwise, I believe, there won’t be any industry to talk of in just a few short years.”