October
JulyMelbourne must stay ahead
I’ve followed the gallops for over 35 years and in all that time I can’t remember a time when Victoria wasn’t the number-one racing state in Australia.
It has maintained that rating through diligent administration and promotion of a first-class product as well as people getting to tracks in numbers above any other state.
Jockeys have relocated here, the spread of winners is cast over a great number of trainers and we have the best carnival in the world. So to see NSW and Queensland get their act together by amalgamations of race clubs that could very well see them overtake Victoria is very hard to take.
If our race clubs can’t see that to amalgamate would make Victoria the "super state " of racing then maybe that decision should be taken from them and their self-serving administrators.
A lot of our tracks are in urgent need of upgrades, Moonee Valley being one. Members could be entitled to go to all metropolitan tracks by paying an upgraded membership subscription or choose to keep paying for the membership they already have. The VRC would have to have more representation on a new board, with the MRC and MVRC represented in meaningful numbers as well.
RVL could "legislate" that iconic meetings stay at traditional venues — Cox Plate at the Valley, Toorak Handicap and Blue Diamond at Caulfield etc. This would keep traditionalists pleased and make any transition a lot easier.
RVL could also distribute money for track maintenance and facilities proportionate to existing clubs.
If the numbers coming out of NSW are to be believed then our Saturday meetings would be turned into super country meetings — that would be unacceptable.
Moonee Valley already can’t keep pace on prizemoney compared to our other clubs.
We have enjoyed a level of unparalleled dominance in this state that should not be lost due to the self-serving needs of race club administrators. Might be time for Rob Hulls to make a decision if the clubs can’t.
Craigieburn (Vic)