October
DecemberSeize the moment
With a change in government and new Racing Minister in Victoria, jumps racing fans have been walking around grinning like cheshire cats. It’s the industry that, despite every effort to finish it off, has beaten the odds and continued to survive. Racing administrators need to read the play and get on board.
The recent refusal by Racing Victoria Ltd to the Melbourne Racing Club plan to run the Grand National Hurdle at Caulfield on Liston Stakes Day is not a step in the right direction.
The Minister has expressed a desire to attract international competitors to the Warrnambool Grand Annual — an ambitious but achievable plan.
The Coalition promised that unclaimed dividends would be returned to the industry. The Minister should insist that prizemoney in jumps racing is increased sufficiently to ensure the Grand Annual and Grand National steeplechases are run for $1,000,000 each, the increase coming out of the unclaimed dividends. Further, travel subsidies of up to $80,000 should be paid to assist international runners to attract interest.
With the recent appointment of jumps racing fan Des Gleeson as the chairman of Tas Racing, it may be possible to again conduct a short, sharp jumps racing program in northern Tasmania at the start and/or the end of the Victorian season. A national approach, with South Australia, Victoria and possibly Tasmania working together, could see jumps racing flourish to the levels of 2006/07.
Sadly, RVL steward James Williams, chairman of the jumps racing panel, has joined the exodus of experienced staff at RVL. Although James’s departure is voluntary, it should not go unnoticed. James is a very strong supporter of jumps racing and worked extremely hard to ensure its survival. He shall be missed.
Who should replace him? Bruce McGinley possesses a lifelong interest in jumps racing and has excellent knowledge of the industry. With trials less than six weeks away RVL needs to act and fill this position quickly to give the industry further confirmation of its survival.
These are but a few ideas to solidify the industry for the future. Administrators and supporters must seize the opportunity of government support and implement positive changes to grow.
Greensborough (Vic)