4 March, 2005

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Harness Racing Victoria has been overwhelmed by support for its V3 plan - 'Vision Value Victoria', released yesterday.

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HRV chairman Neil Busse said, "Everyone knows that harness racing has deep roots in regional Victoria so the positive vibes from country participants is particularly satisfying and supportive of HRV's strategy to invest over $20 million upgrading regional harness venues."

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"Obviously a big chunk of the additional $37 million in prizemoney that V3 makes possible will be distributed to industry stakeholders in the country.

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"V3 is all about sustaining wagering growth and keeping prizemoney ahead of inflation, and this will be achieved by the strategic distribution of TAB race meetings at high quality regional centres.

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"I reiterate that no clubs or tracks will be closed. They are all tightly woven into the fabric of Victorian harness racing."

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Coupled with the strong industry support, Tabcorp's Chief Executive of Wagering Michael Piggott today also welcomed Harness Racing Victoria's V3 Action Plan.

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"Tabcorp is delighted to see the proactive approach taken by Harness Racing Victoria. The plan has the potential to significantly enhance wagering turnover in Victoria and will improve the performance of the industry," Mr Piggott said.

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The media release and the 16 page V3 brochure that was mailed to all participants yesterday, contains all the relevant information for the industry to absorb.

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However, HRV has already received widespread endorsement of V3 by leading owners, trainers, drivers, breeders and clubs throughout regional Victoria.

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An example of the sentiments are summarised below;

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Lance Justice (trainer-driver of current Australian Horse of the Year Sokyola) said, "It's a fact of life these days that if you don't streamline and centralise your business it will soon go down the tube.

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"The greyhounds and thoroughbreds are being proactive and we can't sit around and do nothing. We've got to continue to enhance our product to grow turnover and in turn prizemoney and this plan does that.

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"You can't argue with the facts, these tracks generate only four percent of our turnover and it would cost a fortune to upgrade them.

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"As much as it hurts the people in these little towns there's a bigger picture here and what you've got to remember is that they're still good training tracks, they're not losing these meetings and they'll be better off financially."

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John Caldow (multiple Group 1 winning horseman who was born and bred in Ouyen)said, "I'm a Mallee boy so I grew close to some of these affected tracks, but I couldn't agree more with the decision. It has to happen."?

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"It's unfortunate some people can't see the bigger picture. Would you rather be racing for double the prizemoney in six years time or the same as we are now? I know what 99 percent of the industry thinks."

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"These tracks aren't up to scratch, punters don't like betting on them and they're no good for the horses. I'm very reluctant to race horses at these tracks."

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Bruce Morgan (multiple Group 1 winning trainer) said, "I commend the Board for showing enough guts and determination to make this decision which is critical to our future."

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"I cut my teeth on the St Arnauds and Wedderburns, but what these people have to realise is it's not a gymkhana these days, it's a product that's going national on TV and it needs to be professional.

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"These tracks aren't up to scratch and we've got to have a good product to compete for the gambling dollar or else we'll sink."

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"You can't be pouring money into tracks on one another's door step and what you've got to remember is they're not taking the meetings away from these clubs, just moving them to a bigger, better venue down the road."

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Andy Gath (winner of the last four Victorian & Australian trainers premierships) said, "It just makes sense to do it. I can understand the people at these smaller clubs feeling upset, but they should embrace it and move on because it's in the best interests of the sport.

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"What's the use spending a huge amount of money on a track that races four times a year when you've got great facilities just down the road?"

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"Although I've enjoyed a lot of success on these tracks, I can tell you that there's certain horses I just won't take to them because they're sub-standard."

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"Locally, I think the decision to merge Ararat and Stawell is a good thing. It will create one super club with better facilities which has to be a positive."

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Chris Alford (six time Victorian and Australian driving champion) said, "Anything to get the prizemoney up and deliver better tracks is great and that's why this plan gets my full support."

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"I refuse to go to these tracks now because they're not up to scratch and you can't go spending money on them when they only hold a few meetings each year.

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"With the speed our horses go these days these sub-standard tracks are not only bad for the horse's welfare, but the safety of the drivers is put at risk."

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Gavin Lang (seven time Victorian driving champion) said, "The hard decisions have to be made and when it all comes to down to it it's for the betterment of the industry."

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"Victoria has done well to have so many tracks for so long, but the reality is that if we're to race for more prizemoney in the future we can't afford them to keep them all as TAB venues.

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"We're now breeding and racing faster horses and our tracks need to keep up with the times to ensure the safety of drivers and horses."

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Daryl Douglas (premier driver who competes in more races and at more venues than any other Victorian) said, "Why drive past a good track to get to a bad one?"

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"These tracks aren't up to scratch and it doesn't make sense to spend money on them when you've got good tracks in the same area. I know for a fact the trainers, drivers and owners would rather that money is put into stakes."

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Jodi Quinlan (Miracle Mile winning reinswoman and female trailblazer) said, "You've got to be realistic, times are changing and the sport needs to move with them. Really, if we want to race for better stakes, the Board can't go spending money at every track, there's just too many of them.

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"We've got to think of the well-being of the horses on these little tracks too plus, if I draw bad at a Cranbourne or a Maryborough I've still got a chance of earning money for my owners. If I draw bad at a Wedderburn or a Boort I may as well stay at home."

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Ted Demmler (Former World Champion driver and Hall Of Fame inductee) said, "This decision is long overdue and there's no doubt the Board is doing the right thing. In fact it should have happened 10 years ago."

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Peter Tonkin (Hunter Cup winning trainer) said, "I'm fully supportive of the plan, 100 percent, these tracks had to go. This will be a great boost for trainers racing their horses on better tracks."

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Pam Hockham (President, Harness Racing Owners Association) said, "The decision by HRV to re-direct TAB meetings from seven regional tracks within Victoria to larger central centres is financially a good decision for owners.

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"It is understandable that a number of people from the towns affected by this decision will be disappointed. However, we should not lose sight that the Harness Racing Industry is in a very competitive market for the gaming dollar and this decision was necessary to obtain much larger returns for owners.

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"The decision made by HRV is commercially and financially a good one."

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Eric Anderson (Victoria's biggest owner who currently owns over 100 horses) said, "I was all for it years ago and I'm all for it now."

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"Anyone who has ever run a business will tell you that you have to minimise expenses and maximise revenue and it's just not financially viable to sustain so many tracks in Victoria."

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"As an owner, I support any move designed to increase stakes and aid the welfare of my horses.

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"There's some tracks we just won't go to now because they're sub-standard and unfair for participants and punters."

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Allan Galloway (operator of Victoria's largest breeding establishment, Alabar Farms) said, "I think it's absolutely necessary and probably long overdue. The industry cannot maintain all these tracks to a world standard and prosper."

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"People believe this may jeopardise breeding in the townships affected. Quite to the contrary, I think any increases in prizemoney will increase breeding activity and it's a real positive for our side of the industry."

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John Tapp (harness racing trainer and host of Sky Channel's award-winning harness racing program In The Gig) said, "I understand the disappointment of harness enthusiasts in affected areas, but I encourage them to see the long term benefits this plan presents for not one or two people, but the entire industry."

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Bruce Winzar (President - Bendigo Harness Racing Club) said, "The reality is no one wants to change, but if we don't change we won't have an industry. The Bendigo Harness Racing Club fully supports the V3 plan and commend the Board for the vision and leadership it has displayed.

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"The cost of maintaining 25 country tracks to an acceptable and professional standard to not only showcase our product, but to comply with OH&S requirements, is a huge burden the industry cannot sustain."

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Elizabeth Clarke (Secretary - Terang Harness Racing Club) said, "I think the Board should be congratulated on 'Vision Value Victoria'. It is a real shot in the arm for the industry and it will give a lot of the battlers real hope for the future."

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Ray Ladd (President - Cranbourne Harness Racing Club) said, "This is a common sense document and I give HRV my full support in its implementation."

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David Jones (Secretary - Warragul Harness Racing Club) said, "We are extremely pleased to see these initiatives being undertaken by Harness Racing Victoria to ultimately develop the industry. This gives us great confidence in the future of harness racing and the support it can give to everyone in the industry."

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Graeme Wood (Vice President - Yarra Valley Harness Racing Club and licenced trainer) said, "This should have happened a long time ago. It makes economic sense and it is in fact what we need to do to ensure the future of the industry."

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Barry Bottams (President - Mildura Harness Racing Club) said, "We feel for our neighbours in Ouyen, but in reality it's a commercial decision that had to made and we think it will be a positive for harness racing in this region.

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"We already host Robinvale's meetings and there's no doubt that club is now financially viable as a result of that move, so the model is already in place to make the Ouyen meetings a success for both clubs.

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"The opportunity to develop a new track and grow our club will give the many trainers in this area a great deal of heart in the future of the sport."

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Colin Holloway (Secretary - Ballarat & District Trotting Club) said, "We sympathise with the smaller clubs, but this is a necessity and we support the plan on a number of fronts.

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"The reduction in the number of tracks evokes economies of scale, the cost to upgrade sub-standard tracks is something the industry cannot afford and the projected prizemoney increases are tremendous for the industry.

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"What many people don't realise is that there's a huge OH&S bill looming across all tracks and minimising this across less venues makes sense."

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Tony Pellegrino (Secretary - Shepparton Harness Racing Club) said, "I support the plan 110 percent. Clearly from an industry point of view the plan has great benefit.

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"Anything returning greater dollars to owners has to be good for the sport. Sure, some people will be disappointed, but it is the owners who supply horses to trainers to provide our racing product and this will encourage them more."

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Terry Hynes (President - Geelong Harness Racing Club) said, "I fully endorse the action plan, which is no doubt hard for some people, but it's a logical business decision to ensure the future of the sport.

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"There is no need to waste vital industry funds on tracks which contribute just four percent of the industry's turnover.

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"We know that improving strategically located tracks leads to increased wagering and that will continue to drive the industry."

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Trevor Forsyth (President - Mooroopna Harness Racing Club) said, "Mooroopna is only a small spoke in the big wheel, but we can fully understand the reasons behind these changes and congratulate the Board for the way in which the V3 plan has been handled.

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"We're sure that once the clubs that have been directly affected by these changes 'take the blinkers off' they too will see the big picture."

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Rob Merola (Melbourne Harness Racing Committee Member and Managing Director of the sport's biggest sponsor, SEW-Eurodrive) said, "We live in a commercial world where cost benefits need to be taken into account when formulating business plans. Clearly the figures show that the industry cannot sustain 25 country tracks.

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"I believe this decision and increased prizemoney will lead to greater involvement of owners who may have previously questioned their investment in the sport."

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Tony Britt (Member of the Strategic Planning Advisory Group and prominent owner/breeder) said, "It is critically important that harness racing consistently provides a quality product for our television audience.?

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"HRV's V3 initiative will deliver an attractive competitive racing product to the betting public and on-course patrons, thus maximising turnover and industry profitability.

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"The cold hard facts are that participants in all sectors of the industry will benefit from the inevitable growth in stakes."

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Geoff Waters (Director of Victoria's premier yearling sales operators Australia Pacing Gold and prominent owner/breeder) said, "It's a great idea and full marks to the Board for having the guts to do something that was long overdue."

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"Put simply the industry can't afford to support these smaller clubs if it is to grow and prosper in the years ahead."

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