Nick Williams right to highlight the challenges facing racing in Victoria
Williams this week called for greater leadership from Racing Victoria (RV) and queried the role of the state’s governing body – both reasonable questions and ones which I’d extend Australia wide.
Giles Thompson – the affable, generally reserved and capable CEO of RVL – sagely avoided any slanging match with Mr Williams and understandably defended his organisation on the basis of substance rather than style.
Mr Thompson is quite the consummate politician, something he has in common with his New South Wales counterpart, Peter V’landys. Hmm, Thompson might be the one in need of counselling after he reads he’s been likened to Mr V’landys.
Williams’ point was valid at the very least in terms of perception. That perception is that racing in New South Wales is leaving Victoria for dead. That perception needs to be addressed.
Let’s first acknowledge that racing here, down south, is pretty darn good. Just look at today’s Caulfield card. The clubs are strong but there’s nothing in this world which can’t be improved and the negative perception remains. It needs to be dealt with – the perception as well as the substance.
Let’s deal with the simplest of facts, the prize-money is better in New South Wales. The Everest has taken over the spring. Lord help us if we didn’t have Winx bound for Melbourne and a history-making fourth Cox Plate. The Championships have taken over the autumn too and the perception – if not the reality – is that NSW has had fewer integrity issues than Victoria.
The Everest and The Championships are strokes of marketing and branding genius. When is Victoria launching the Breeders Cup or some other inspirational race or raceday or claiming the ‘free’ November space which has been much discussed this week and which V’landys apparently has his eye on?
When are we coming up with something a bit more engaging than ‘spring racing carnival’ or ‘Group 1 raceday’? Group 1 means nothing to the wider audience. There’s a challenge for Victoria’s marketing team. Just remind them that mountains, flying horses and championships are gone.
As for prize-money, Mr Thompson cannot defend Victoria on the assertion that our Friday night prize-money is better, as are the rich rewards on offer for Melbourne’s three major spring races.
There’s a Brian Dawe – (late) John Clarke skit waiting to happen if ever there was one:
Dawe: So, Giles the RVL charter centres on the viability of the racing industry and its participants here in Victoria?
Thompson: Yes, Brian.
Dawe: So there’s been several million dollars added to three races this spring?
Thompson: Yes, Brian.
Dawe: And you’ve invited 32 overseas horses to come and win that prize-money?
Thompson: Yes, Brian… but don’t forget they’ll have to beat our champion Winx in the Cox Plate.
Dawe: Do you think Winx would have run in the Cox Plate without any prize-money increase?
Thompson: Yes, Brian I do believe she would have… and don’t forget that overall our racing is in a very healthy state. Envy of many other jurisdictions, Brian. Didn’t you see my interview on Racing.Com during the week, Brian?
Dawe: Yes, I did. Wasn’t it full of Dorothy Dixers?
Thompson: Well… yes, Brian but…
Dawe: True or false, Giles? NSW Saturday and midweek city prize-money is greater than in Victoria.
Thompson: Well, yes Brian but we’ve focused on specific areas like three-year-old and staying races.
Dawe: Like the Derby Trial being run at Flemington next Wednesday?
Thompson: Yes, Brian.
Dawe: The Derby Trial, grand title. Grand racecourse. Is that the race worth $33,000 to the winner?
Thompson: Yes, Brian.
Dawe: Would that cover my annual training bill, Giles?
Thompson: No, Brian.
Dawe: So could we go through Victoria’s racing and wagering performance overview for the 2017-18 thoroughbred racing season which you sent out this week?
Thompson: Do we have to?
Dawe: You said there was an 18.2 per cent growth in television ratings on Channel 7/7Two for spring’s 13 feature racedays. That’s impressive.
Thompson: Yes, Brian.
Dawe: And significant increases in engagement with Racing.com certainly complemented this, you wrote. How many increases?
Thompson: We don’t know for sure Brian but there were lots
Dawe: Did they bet a lot?
Thompson: We don’t know for sure Brian but we think so
Dawe: Could they be little old ladies, betting 50 cents a race, who just like to look at horses on the telly?
Thompson: Could be.
Dawe: There’s a lot of people working on Racing.Com now, Giles. It’s a great service to those little old ladies.
Thompson: Well, they’re very nice people who are working hard and doing a good job I believe.
Dawe: You said a lot more people were sharing in the prize-money growth in Victoria.
Thompson: Yes, Brian.
Dawe: But only about ten trainers in the state made more than $150,000 from city prize-money last season, Giles. That’s $75,000 or less, after tax, for working 365 days a year starting at 3 am.
Thompson: Well, yes Brian but it’s very healthy to get up early.
Dawe: You said a record $6.42 billion was wagered domestically on Victorian racing – up 2.7 per cent despite a decline of more than 50 per cent from one key corporate bookmaker amid a rapidly evolving wagering market. If you remove that one corporate bookmaker, the underlying growth was nearer to 7.5 per cent. What does underlying mean, Giles?
Thompson: It means lying under, Brian.
Dawe: Corporate bookmakers get a lot of support in Victoria it seems, Giles. But doesn’t the industry get a greater return from TAB parimutuel betting?
Thompson: Well, yes Brian but it’s all about the digital world these days.
Dawe: You mean mobile phones?
Thompson: Yes Brian, and there’s lot of pressure on parimutuel betting from fixed odds betting.
Dawe: So perhaps a new bet type with a super pool would be worth exploring?
Thompson: Well, yes Brian but the footy finals are on this weekend.
Dawe: So, what is the breakdown of revenue to racing in the state?
Thompson: That’s confidential, Brian.
Dawe: You mean you don’t know
Thompson: Yes, Brian.
Dawe: So what about doing away with the state bodies, making Racing Australia the truly representative national body with full governing power and saving what, say $50 million a year?
Thompson: We don’t live in Utopia, Brian and besides Peter or I would have to go.
Dawe: Could anyone make that happen?
Thompson: Maybe John Messara but Brian he’s got his hands full saving New Zealand racing.
Dawe: Thanks Giles.