Racing Victoria (RV) and Country Racing Victoria (CRV) have today announced an additional $1.9 million support package for country racetracks to assist clubs to prepare their tracks in the best possible condition.
The commitment centres around building and supporting a network of track staff and assisting country clubs in the on-going maintenance of their racing and training tracks.
It is underpinned by an increase in annual funding to Victoria’s country clubs for the 2018-19 racing season.
The following headline the initiatives being implemented for the 2018-19 season:
- Turf Apprentice/Trainee Incentive Program – The introduction of incentives for major regional clubs with 14 TAB meetings or more to employ a turf management apprentice or trainee who will be supported by a new industry training and mentoring program;
- Regional Track Manager Program – A two-year extension of the program that sees an experienced track manager provide support to smaller clubs and inexperienced track managers, primarily in the form of track inspections 10 days and one day before each meeting;
- Training Track Maintenance Fund – The allocation of an additional $1 million to support the maintenance and preparation of tracks at the state’s funded training centres;
- Course Proper Funding Program – An expansion of the program which provides funding assistance to country clubs that are not funded training centres to maintain their course proper. Eligibility has been reduced from a minimum of six TAB meetings per season to three with additional funding being provided to all eligible clubs;
- Regional Track Renovation Program – The commencement of a new program that will see RV provide a professional and consistent track renovation service, led by former Geelong track manager Mark Jennings, free-of-charge to the 21 country clubs that conduct between three and 13 TAB race meetings annually;
RV Executive General Manager – People, Infrastructure and Clubs, Jamie McGuinness, said RV and Country Racing Victoria (CRV) are pleased to enhance their support of country clubs and their track management staff.
“We are absolutely committed to supporting track managers, who we feel do a terrific job in preparing the best possible surfaces for racing and training in Victoria,” McGuinness said.
“Due to the Victorian climate, there are many challenges faced in the preparation of racing and training surfaces and our track managers often face a thankless task.
“This $1.9 million package of programs and initiatives is designed to both assist our country track managers in the preparation of their facilities and to attract and retain quality staff.
“It is for the benefit of all that we educate and retain quality track staff, particularly in country Victoria, and we’ll continue to encourage all stakeholders to acknowledge and support our track managers who are always striving to do their best for the industry.”
RV has also announced today that its trackwalker program, which was instituted in 2012 to assist in the delivery of accurate track ratings on race morning, will conclude on 3 September 2018.
McGuinness said the decision to focus on other track management initiatives was a positive reflection of the work that the trackwalkers have done in supporting track managers since the program’s inception.
“We acknowledge the excellent work of our trackwalkers Sam Hyland and Will Hernan and wish to thank them for their great service. They have increased the accuracy of track rating information and provided valuable assistance to Clubs,” McGuinness said.
“Through the education, assistance and support provided by the trackwalkers, the track managers across the state are in a better position to assume responsibility for this role with the support of the regional track managers and stewards.
Track managers currently feature as part of the daily free-to-air broadcast of Victorian racing on Racing.com and will continue to play an important role in providing an overview of their track rating via media outlets.