Harness Racing SA (HRSA) advises that it has completed a review of the SA harness racing calendar and the effect the current calendar has on the overall dynamic of the industry in the state.
The review concluded that the South Australian harness horse population is less than sufficient to sustain three meetings each week in the northern part of the state and resultantly, for the balance of the season, the racing calendar has been rationalised to best advantage the industry moving forward.
The changes to be implemented are primarily two-fold. These being;
- That only two race meetings each week will be scheduled in the northern part of the state for the majority of the year.
2. Racing at Port Pirie will take a twelve week break from the end of June 2019 through to the last weekend in September 2019.
The effective outcomes of the rationalisation being that the number of meetings in the northern part of the state will be reduced to 105 per year with racing predominately being conducted on Saturday evenings and Monday afternoons.
In making the changes announced today HRSA Chairman Gary Crocker stated, “the shift to two meetings during the trial period of August/September/October proved successful on a number of fronts but importantly enhanced revenues which has enabled us to increase our minimum stakes level by 20%”
Mr Crocker added “we acknowledge the co-operation of the Port Pirie club in their decision to take a break over the winter months as this will enable them to race more regularly through a more defined period”.
Resulting from today’s decision there have had to be adjustments to the racing calendar to ensure that all clubs are afforded the quantum of meetings relative to the race horse population. While some of these changes made effect race dates in the short-term the reality is that they nonetheless had to be made to ensure that those meetings would proceed. The revised calendar to the end of the financial year is available by clicking here.
For further information please contact:
ROSS NEAL | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
(08) 8285 0700 • rneal@saharness.org.au
