Industry News

• Rights fees battle resumes this week

  The long-running battle between NSW racing authorities and wagering firms Betfair and Sportsbet over rights fees will continue in the High Court this week.

   
• Poor visibility ends Doomben meeting

  Racing Queensland stewards abandoned the final two races at Doomben on Saturday after jockeys complained of poor visibility.

   
• Activists to target Melbourne Steeplechase

  A group opposed to jumps racing is preparing to confront enthusiasts of the sport at Melbourne’s Grand National Steeplechase.

   
• Taree to ask for December Cup date

  Club officials will seek to have the Taree Cup transferred to December after Sunday’s showcase race meeting was called off due to surface water

   
• Paul Fudge could be racing’s new major player

  Trainer Joe Pride was as enthusiastic about owner Paul Fudge’s future in racing as he was about Saturday’s Warwick Farm winner Sienna Red.

   
• ARB decides on weighty issue

  Minimum weights in most handicap races will rise a kilo from January next year in one of several changes ushered in at a meeting of the Australian Racing Board on Thursday.

   
• Doug Bougoure dead at 88

  The Queensland racing industry is in mourning following the death of one of its former great trainers, Doug Bougoure.

   
• Victorian weights in earlier release

  Weights for Victorian Saturday metropolitan races and Friday night meetings at Moonee Valley are to be released on Monday afternoons, starting from next month.

   
• Darryl Hansen guilty at bicarb inquiry

  Racing Queensland stewards will reconvene an inquiry next week to determine a penalty for Caloundra trainer Darryl Hansen after he was found guilty at an inquiry into a swab irregularity returned by Mackay Cup winner Hussonator.

   
• Trainers asked to monitor spelled horses

  Horse trainers in NSW have been asked to monitor horses returning from spelling paddocks to further minimise the threat of a Hendra virus outbreak.

   
• Prize money cut for Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes

  The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) has cut prize money for the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes by $100,000 after it failed to gain Group One status.

   
• New date for Gosford Cup

  Gosford Race Club has revamped one of its flagship events with the Gold Cup to be run as part of a summer twilight program from next year.

   
• VRC deputy chief Lloyd-Williams to retire

  The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) deputy chief executive Sue Lloyd-Williams has announced she will retire after the 2011 Melbourne Cup carnival.

   
• Winterbottom Stakes now a Group One

  The Winterbottom Stakes in Perth has been upgraded to Group One status following an Australian Pattern Committee meeting in Sydney on Friday.

   
• Bendigo gets stand-alone Saturday date

  A total of $770,000 in prize money and bonuses will be on offer for Bendigo’s inaugural premier Saturday meeting on March 17 next year.

   
• Forecast bright for the Eagle Farm

  Warwick Farm has missed the worst of Sydney’s torrential rain and officials are confident Saturday’s eight-race card will go ahead.

   
• New code to govern sales agents

  Eight of the racing industry’s major bodies have banded together to release a code of conduct governing sales agents.

   
• Oaks day meeting put back an hour

  Oaks day racegoers won’t have to rush as much after the Victoria Racing Club announced that the meeting this year would start more than hour later than usual.

   
• New CEO for NSW trainers

  The NSW Trainers’ Association board has appointed Steve McMahon as its new chief executive.

   
• Victorian wagering licence goes to Tabcorp

  Gambling giant Tabcorp Holdings Ltd has paid $410 million to keep its hold on Victoria’s $4.4 billion wagering industry until 2024.