Friday, 27 July 2012: Racing NSW conducted a series of Industry Forums at eight locations throughout NSW between February and April 2012 when a number of issues were raised by racing participants.
Prizemoney
Participants at the Industry Forums raised the issue of prizemoney levels and training costs. They asked what increases would be achievable and how prizemoney would be distributed among sectors.
Racing NSW Action
Following its successful defence of the Race Fields Legislation in the High Court, Racing NSW was able to announce increases in minimum prizemoney that took effect from 1 July 2012. Currently, $52 million per annum received from race field fees is being used for prizemoney. These increases will assist the viability of participants in NSW, in particular in the Country areas, where the majority of new funding has been directed.
Merit Based Handicapping
Participants at the Industry Forums in Country regions were critical of aspects of the Benchmark System, in particular that horses were rising too quickly in their ratings which reduced their progression and opportunities. Further it was claimed that ratings were lowered too slowly when horses were uncompetitive.
Racing NSW Action
Racing NSW is satisfied that the Benchmark Programming System overall is working effectively in providing flexibility for trainers in placing horses across Country NSW. However, we agreed with the concerns about the Handicapping Policy as it related to the review of Racing NSW horses' ratings.
Accordingly, Racing NSW undertook a reassessment of its handicapping policies.
After a consultation process, the following recommendations have been adopted by Racing NSW:
• More discretion given to the handicapper to weight horses up to one kilogram lower than their published benchmark, if this is warranted by the nominations for a particular race;
• Where horses perform well above their grade without winning, the benchmark allocated for the next start
is dependent on the grade of a race;
• In assessing the performances of maiden winners, the weight allocated by handicappers is to be over a tighter spread than at present;
• The practice of spreading weights at acceptance time if weights need to be raised to the minimum top weight is to be discontinued for Class 1 races.
Racing NSW will also introduce set weights Class 2 Country Plates.
Synthetic Tracks
Participants at many of the Industry Forums were interested in the position of Racing NSW regarding the use of synthetic racing surfaces, especially to minimise wet weather abandonments.
Racing NSW Action
At this point in time Racing NSW is comfortable with the use of 'all-weather' synthetic tracks as fast work training surfaces. These training tracks provide a durable, year round solution to fast work requirements, often with little down time due to wet weather. However at present there is not a synthetic track which “ticks all the boxes” to enable it to be used as a racetrack. Racing NSW will use accumulated funds from race fields to improve the existing turf racing surfaces, exploring new turf technology, which provides similar drainage benefits to synthetic surfaces.
Racing and Training Facilities
Participants at many of the Industry Forums asked what Racing NSW was doing regarding improvements to racing and training facilities throughout NSW. Participants also frequently asked about the expenditure of funds accumulated from Race Fields that were built up while legal challenges were being defended.
Racing NSW Action
The focus of capital expenditure from accumulated monies will be to upgrade racing and training facilities throughout NSW. With respect to racing, funds will be committed to capital works aimed at improving the extent to which race tracks provide fair and competitive racing and to ensure an optimum track surface. With respect to training, funds will be directed to upgrade training facilities to enable horses to be conditioned effectively and minimise injuries. In the period since the Industry Forums, Racing NSW has undertaken an audit of more than 35 provincial and country racecourses. Racing NSW has established a review panel to consider the outcome of these audits and assess the numerous independent applications received from race clubs. From this audit work, recommendations for capital expenditure will be made to the Board of Racing NSW and expect the work and expenditure to begin from September 2012.
Broadcast of Racing
At the Industry Forums, the matter of broadcast arrangements was raised, including the existing duplication of racing coverage by Sky Channel and TVN.
Racing NSW Action
Since the Forums, Racing NSW has entered into a Heads of Agreement to aggregate the broadcast rights of all NSW races with those of the Victorian racing industry through a remodelled TVN. It is envisaged that this aggregation will increase the collective value of our broadcast rights and increase returns to the NSW thoroughbred racing industry. It should also reduce the duplicated costs which currently exist. Racing NSW is presently undertaking its due diligence process prior to finalising the TVN transaction.
Race Dates and Abandoned Race Meetings
At a number of Industry Forums, participants asked about the allocation of race dates and the reinstatement of race meetings that are abandoned due to wet weather.
Racing NSW Action
Racing NSW regards the continuity of racing in country regions to be a priority when establishing race dates. In providing continuity Racing NSW seeks to spread race dates across the season to provide racing opportunities at regular intervals, especially at TAB meetings throughout the State. Racing NSW also balances the commercial opportunities for race clubs that arise from racing at certain periods, thus enabling them to generate revenue which helps to support racing. For 2012/13 Racing NSW has further adjusted the allocation of dates in regions and periods across the year to improve the spread of opportunities for participants. In the case of wet weather abandonments, Racing NSW seeks to postpone or replace these meetings near to the date on which they were originally scheduled. In the event there are several abandonments in one region over a short period, additional meetings may be scheduled. When seeking to reschedule postponed race meetings, Racing NSW takes account of the broadcast availability on Sky Channel (established broadcast schedules are often full), the proximity to forthcoming meetings and the risk of heavy scratchings undermining the postponement. The investment in new turf technology mentioned above will also assist in reducing the number of abandonments.
Horsemanship Standards
The issue of horsemanship among officials handling horses such as barrier attendants was raised at some Forums.
Racing NSW Action
Racing NSW is developing short educational courses for barrier attendants and other persons handling horses through its Industry Training Department to improve and ensure the adequacy of horsemanship standards.
Structure of Country Racing
At all the Industry Forums, the possibility of rationalisation of country clubs was raised along with the ongoing role of smaller clubs.
Racing NSW Action
Racing NSW has no rationalisation plans which will force the closure of race clubs in NSW. While Racing NSW seeks to improve returns to owners throughout NSW, it also recognises the benefits that arise from the diverse spread of race clubs and the marketing value created by the presence of thoroughbred racing throughout the State.
