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Country Racing Clubs Worse Off While Labor Plays Favourites

Andrews Government refused to boost support to smaller clubs.

By Portal Admin - 8th June 2019 - Back to News

Victoria’s grassroots racing Clubs have again missed out on getting a fair share of industry funding, with the Andrews Government refusing to boost support to smaller clubs.

Grassroots racing clubs in country Victoria, including at Kerang, Mansfield, Swift’s Creek, Buchan, Mortlake and Nhill, will miss out on increases to prize money in Labor’s 2019-20 State Budget which further tips the scales in favour of larger clubs.

An increase to racing prize money at local races would help to attract more trainers and owners to races in Regional Victoria.

Thoroughbred racing in Victoria boosts our state’s economy, contributing $3.2 billion and supporting more than 25,000 jobs. Greyhound racing and harness racing contribute more than $1.1 billion to our state, supporting nearly 10,000 jobs – many in communities in Regional Victoria.

In the budget papers, Labor boasts: "increased prize money across the industry will ensure that Victoria will continue to host high-profile events", but it’s ignored the smaller clubs, including all picnic clubs, who have been excluded from this prize money increase.

The budget papers also show the $1 million allocated to the harness racing industry last year to "upgrade infrastructure at training facilities and promote harness racing in Victoria" has also been cut, despite many clubs still needing support.

Comment attributable to Shadow Minister for Racing Tim Bull

Our smaller racing clubs, including our picnic clubs, are the heart of Victorian racing and where many of our leading industry representatives cut their teeth.

Race days at our smaller country grassroots clubs offer a huge economic boost to the local economy and many of these clubs are crying out for more support to attract more trainers and owners to races in Regional Victoria.

For the Government to only support the bigger clubs and forget the smaller country clubs and picnic clubs, many of which are calling for more support, is typical of this city-centric Labor Government.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com