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Letter of the Week

Why cut picnics?

 

John Kennedy in his "At The Picnics" column (24/4) laments the fact that five Victorian amateur clubs will each lose one meeting in season 2010/11. Similarly, a number of my picnic enthusiast friends are upset by the decision.

John does not indicate what reason or reasons were given by Racing Victoria to justify the culling of more than 10 percent of the picnic season. My picnic friends also remain mystified.

I would be extremely grateful if someone would inform me of the official reason given for such a drastic measure being taken.

• Racing Victoria replies: The allocation of race dates for the 2010/11 season resulted from the five-year Racecourse and Training Facilities Infrastructure Plan, prepared jointly by Racing Victoria Ltd and Country Racing Victoria in May 2009 and agreed to by all clubs in the state. The plan was the first of its kind for Victorian thoroughbred racing and was the result of more than 12 months of consultation with individuals, clubs, trainers and local governments. The plan provides a clear framework for the future direction of racing across the state and is aimed at establishing a sustainable and viable racing industry for the next five years and beyond.

Over the lifetime of the plan total country meetings will be increased to 437 in 2013/14. During the planning, each club was provided with an individual five-year plan for race dates and club funding, to ensure that every club in the state had a viable and sustainable future. All picnic clubs agreed to the new program and the infrastructure agreement.

The agreement includes a total of 34 picnic race meetings conducted from the start of the spring racing carnival through to Easter Monday, with at least one meeting per weekend and on each public holiday during that period. This number has been locked in annually up to and including 2013/14.

It is worth reiterating that RVL and CRV value picnic racing strongly and contribute in excess of $1 million annually towards its conduct.

Ken Corbett
Port Melbourne (Vic)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March