| WHAT'S NEW: |
| 2008 |
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| 31st July |
What prize money increases?
TROA was bemused/befuddled/bewildered by RVL’s recent announcement that prize money will be increased by 15% over the next two years. The announcement outlined a two phase strategy; phase one was announced as an increase at country from $9000 to $10,500 and $12,000 to $13,500.
On face value this appears to be an increase but if we look at real returns to owners, it is not an increase at all.
Phase 1 represents no significant increase to prize monies at all as it is balanced out by the removal of the starter’s subsidy.
For example, prior to 1st of August 2008 a $9000 race also attracts the starter’s subsidy of $170 for unplaced runners. On average field sizes of 12 runners an additional 8 times $170 is paid to owners. When you take into account trainers and jockeys now getting their percentage of 5th to 10th owners will be status quo or marginally worse off.
And the same goes for the $12,000 to $13,500 increase. In reality there is no improvement in the bush at all.
On the same basis effective increase in midweek prizemoney is around $2000 but there is a reduction in prizemoney at Saturday level of a similar amount. This being 8 times $170 plus 15% 0f 6th to 10th payments. That is, $1360 plus 15% of 5 times $600 in effect a total reduction on Saturdays of around $1,800.
All this is simply shifting deck chairs and worst of all there are NO REAL INCREASES AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL.
Phase 2 may well represent real increases but should be brought forward given our observations in relation to Phase 1.
The balance is just unsubstantiated, uncosted and conditional conjecture which TROA doubts will be achievable without radical industry reform.
It is worth noting that since the advent of RVL the cost regime of 'putting on the show' born by owners has increased from approximately $18,000 a year to $30,000 a year per horse. There is a fairly constant 9500 horses that race each year and probably another 2500 that are in training and don't race. That is additional costs over the past 7 years of $12,000 by 12,000, which equals 144 million. So let's keep things in perspective.
It is true to say that no one is forced to race a horse but our model for a successful revenue stream does rely on mass participation and substantial real prizemoney increases are fundamental to a healthy industry.
For more on this issue listen to this podcast of David Moodie discussing this issue with Steve Moran on Sport 927. |
| 3rd July |
TROA Newsletter - July 2008
Read More |
| 24th June |
TROA members reciprocal agreement with The Victoria Club
TROA members are entitled to reciprocal membership of The Victoria Club which has recently moved from its premises at the Rialto building in Melbourne.
TROA members are advised that they are invited to the new (temporary) premises of The Victoria Club. The new premises are shared with The Naval and Military Club located at 27 Little Collins Street Melbourne. The move to the new shared premises is only a temporary arrangement and we will advise TROA members as soon as the Victoria Club has found a new home.
Meanwhile the facilities available to TROA members at the Naval and Military Club are:
Access to dining and function rooms in the heart of the city
Superb restaurants and bars
Access to elegant boutique style accommodation at the Club
Access to the fully equipped gymnasium with two squash courts
A business centre and in house library
Please visit the Club website at www.vicclub.com.au for further information.
As usual, you will be required to present your current Racehorse Owners’ Gold Card in order to access the facilities of the Victoria Club.
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| 16th June |
CONCERNS ABOUT SAUNDRY FOR RVL JOB
TROA is concerned that there is a push within sections of RVL and the media to promote acting CEO Bernard Saundry into the permanent CEO role. TROA does not want to see a potential repeat of the Stephen Allanson appointment where Allanson was appointed RVL CEO when there were clear doubts as to whether he was the right person for the job.
Read More
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| 14th June |
POTENTIAL VETERINARY EXPENSES FOR OWNERS OF THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSES
(A perspective from THE AUSTRALIAN EQUINE VETERINARY ASSOCIATION). Read More
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| 14th June |
Racehorse Owners' Big Win in EI Case.
TROA is a member of The Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners' Council Chaired by Harvey Crossman. Racehorse owners nation wide will breathe a sigh of relief that the $108 million dollar cost of eradicating EI will not be shouldered by the racing industry. Read More
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| 28th May |
Members’ Poll
What is the single most important thing for the racing industry to get right by the 2008/2009 racing season? Email your response to this question to troa@racingvictoria.net.au and we will post the most thought provoking and well-informed responses on our website.
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| 22nd May |
On 20th May Robert Nason from Tabcorp spoke on Sport 927 about the lack of protection of the Tabcorp product and how this has been creating a leakage of revenue from the racing industry (and ultimately from the pockets of owners!).
Hear the full podcast here. |
| 22nd May |
"Recently The Australian gave an overview of racing in Victoria identifying that in the next 12 weeks, the new Board of Racing Victoria needs to show leadership in defining and securing the future of the sport. We reproduce the article here."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23710991-12270,00.html |
| 29th Apr |
Recently the Minister for Racing was interviewed on Sport 927 about how he sees the future of racing, the wagering licence and how funding will work.
The full podcast of that interview is attached to this link.
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| 21st Apr |
“Owners’ responsibilities in lay type bets”
RVL Integrity Services would like to bring to the attention of thoroughbred raceehorse owners the Rules of Racing relevant to ‘lay- type’ bets - Read More |
| 13th Apr |
Congratulations Moonee Valley!
Moonee Valley Racing Club have long been leaders in the field of owner servicing. Lately they have invited every owner who has fielded a runner at the club to a complimentary lunch or dinner at the club on selected race days.
This gesture certainly affirms that the club considers owners to be a vital part of the business of MVRC. Congratulations to the team at Moonee Valley Racing Club on their outstanding customer service.
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| 27th Mar |
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| 7th Jan |
A Tax win for Breeders - This case, decided by the WA AAT in late October 2007 after a hearing that took place in June 2007, ruled that a husband and wife partnership were conducting a taxation breeding and racing activity, even where limited sales where evident due to perfectly legitimate reasons, ......
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| 7th Jan |
"Have horse - will travel" |
