News

Infrastructure plan to sustain country racing in Victoria

12th May 2009

Racing Victoria - Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) in conjunction with Country Racing Victoria (CRV) has today released its five year Racecourse and Training Facilities Infrastructure Plan providing a clear future direction for all Victorian Country Racing Clubs.

The Infrastructure Plan is the first of its kind for Victorian Thoroughbred racing and is the result of more than 12 months of consultation with individuals, clubs, trainers and local government.

“The Infrastructure Plan provides a clear understanding 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,” said RVL Chief Executive Officer Rob Hines.

The key elements of the plan include:

• An optimum wagering schedule

• A five year race date program

• A revamped picnic racing program

• New race meeting classifications

• A Training Track Maintenance Funding plan

• A Capital funding strategy

• Club sustainability criteria

• An International Horse Centre at Werribee

“The plan will ensure clubs will be rewarded for their performance. It gives all clubs certainty for their future so long as their local communities continue to support racing,” said CRV Chief Executive Officer Scott Whiteman.

Under the plan additional twilight and night meetings will be conducted, total country meetings will increase by 17 to 437 in 2013/14, a three tiered approach for the future funding of maintenance and capital improvements at training facilities will be implemented and the picnic racing season will be modified to commence from the start of the Spring Racing Carnival.

Each country club has been provided with an individual five year plan for race dates and club funding.

“RVL and CRV will undertake annual reviews of each club’s circumstances, financial performance and general club development. This will provide the basis for the allocation of future race dates and funding,” Hines said.

In conjunction with the Victorian Government $60 million will be invested in racecourse infrastructure in regional Victoria over the next four years focussing on drought proofing, training facilities and Occupational Health and Safety.

An important component of the Plan is the establishment of an International Horse Centre at the Werribee Racecourse precinct in time for the 2010 Spring Racing Carnival.

“We are working towards establishing Werribee as the new home for visiting international horses. This plan will necessitate the reconstruction of the course proper which will then allow up to eight meetings a year to be run by the end of the 2013/14 racing season,” Hines said.