VISIT TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA

John Alducci (ATA, Strategy Manager) and I spent two days last week in Adelaide.

We had a series of very good meetings with a cross section of the South Australian racing industry, including our own Australian Trainers’ Association (ATA) SA committee members; Brenton Wilkinson (CEO) and Rob Heinjus (Operations Manager) from the South Australian Jockey Club; and Jim Watters (CEO), Nick Redin (COO) and Johan Petzer (Chairman Of Stewards) from Thoroughbred Racing South Australia.

A wide variety of subjects were discussed, with the overwhelming view being positive about the current health of racing in South Australia. In particular, the 2015 announcements that state wide prizemoney, race day grants, marketing and club training would increase by $4.4m, with capital and operational expenditure to increase by $4.26m, together with the recent February 2016 announcement that the March Adelaide Racing Carnival prizemoney will exceed $4m, has topped off a wonderful twelve months for the state’s thoroughbred racing industry in terms of ongoing investment.

Conversely, there are several key matters that require ongoing industry focus and attention, including the need to accelerate completion of the new Murray Bridge race track construction at Gifford Hill, together with ways to address concerns raised by Trainers over inconsistent racing surface management at several of our regional race centres.

The ATA also raised with the SAJC and TRSA a number of race day marketing initiatives we wish to roll out in season 2015/2016, together with ideas on how we can use forum events to better connect and communicate with regional trainers in their own environment. Our discussions are continuing here, stay tuned, as we expect to provide exciting news to our members on a number of planned ATA SA events in our next update.

John and I look forward to making the trek to SA again shortly. In the meantime, should you wish to raise any issues or provide feedback in writing, please do so by CLICKING HERE

Alternatively, contact the office on (03) 9372-1688 should any one wish to discuss this matter with myself.

Kind Regards

ANDREW NICHOLL
Chief Executive