Victorian prizemoney cut

Racing Victoria has confirmed significant cuts to prizemoney in the wake of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Racing Victoria Chairman Brian Kruger said the cuts, which have been necessitated by anticipated drops in revenue, would help the industry survive if it is forced to shut down in the coming weeks.

The prizemoney cuts, which come in from April 6, will see:

- Metropolitan prizemoney drop 20 per cent per race.

- Country prizemoney drop 10 per cent per race, provided that no TAB race is conducted for less than $20,000.

- Metropolitan Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold bonuses drop by 15 per cent.

- Country Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold bonuses fall by 7.5 per cent.

- The VOBIS Showdown at Caulfield on April 18 reduce from $1 million to $905,000, while the VOBIS Gold Guineas will be reduced from $500,000 to $452,500.

- Prizemoney for the VOBIS Gold premier races, excluding The Showdown and VOBIS Gold Guineas, reduced by 20 per cent for metropolitan races and 10 per cent for country races.

Racing Victoria has also announced that more than 40 per cent of its staff, from Wednesday, would be temporarily stood down or be required to reduced hours.

RV’s board and executive team have agreed to a reduction in their pay of 50 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

Staff stood down or working reduced hours have been encouraged to take accrued entitlements, while those with minimal entitlements can take up to 20 days leave in advance as part of RV’s COVID-19 Assistance Leave.

“We have had to make some incredibly tough decisions today around our workforce and prizemoney which fuels participation in our industry,” Kruger said.

“These are not decisions that we have taken lightly, however the impacts of the past fortnight and the nation’s rapidly evolving economic crisis means that we must act now to help soften the blow for Victorian racing.

“It has become clear that this pandemic and the associated economic crisis will have a long-term impact on our industry if we don’t seek to mitigate the impact now.

“Over the past fortnight we have ceased all non-essential expenditure at RV and today we are taking that a step further by announcing temporary reductions to our workforce and prizemoney payments to help the industry best navigate these unprecedented times.

“Whilst the industry has wisely built an Industry Sustainability Fund over the past five years, it is prudent at this time that sufficient funds remain available to assist the industry should we face a shutdown at any time and then need to rebuild our sport thereafter.”

MRC flags Cup prizemoney cut

Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Josh Blanksby has conceded the club's feature race the G1 Caulfield Cup is likely to have its prizemoney cut in 2020.

Drops in revenue from wagering turnover due the COVID-19 outbreak is already impacting the racing industry and as well as the Racing Victoria move announced above, Racing NSW has confirmed it will halve the prizemoney on offer for the Group 1 races during The Championships at Randwick over the next two weeks.

Blanksby told RSN on Monday that given the financial challenges faced by the Australian industry, that it was highly likely there would have to be cuts to feature races in the spring.

“As I sit here, I’d probably say you’d think it would be reduced,” Blanksby said.

“But we want to work with all the clubs and Racing Victoria to make sure it’s done in a concerted sort of way and what’s required.”

The Caulfield Cup has carried prizemoney of $5 million in the past two years after receiving a $2 million increase in 2018.

Both of those editions have been won by internationally prepared horses but Blanksby said his club is also preparing for the possibility that there would be limited or no internationals in the Melbourne spring in 2020.

“It could be a very different Cup,” he said. “I’m not sure if international participation will be high on the agenda for those (who would normally be) coming or us seeking it as well, so it could be a different landscape.”

He also conceded that the schedule of the spring carnival would not be known until the nation emerges from the strict measures out in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

SA chief pays tribute to industry

The fact that South Australian racing continues is a tribute to the commitment of the entire industry according to Thoroughbred Racing South Australia (TRSA) Chief Executive Nick Redin.

Speaking to Racing.com, Redin said the level of planning and communication had been key to meetings progressing across the state.

"We have been continually proactive reviewing and refining our protocols as we push on with racing and doing everything possible to meet State and Federal Government requirements," Redin said.

“Around the country racing jurisdictions are in constant contact, discussing, suggesting and implementing alterations that can improve our procedures.

“I could not be more pleased with the efforts of all within the industry at both Morphettville and Bordertown the past two days.

“It is clear everyone is doing all they can to protect their jobs and livelihoods."

Jockeys choose their zones

Queensland-based jockey have nominated which of the five zones they will ride in under the newly implemented zoned racing model, designed to prevent a total shutdown of racing in the instance of a COVID-19 outbreak in the industry.

The new zones come into effect from Tuesday's meeting at Mackay, with jockeys needing the choose whether to ride in Metro North (Brisbane and Sunshine Coast), Metro South West (Gold Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba), Darling Downs and SEQ Coast, Central West and Central, and North West and North.

There are 59 jockeys nominated to ride in Metro North, and 46 in Metro South West.

In the metropolitan regions, jockeys are permitted to ride in Metro North or Metro South West but not both. There are 43 registered for the North and North West region, 23 for Central West and Central and 13 for Darling Downs and SEQ Coast.

Warrnambool carnival set to be reduced

The format of the iconic Warrnambool May Carnival will be determined this week, with Racing Victoria seeking to stay within federal and state government guidelines.

The three-day carnival traditionally attracts trainers from across Australia, with big fields the norm, but Country Racing Victoria Chief Executive Scott Whiteman is mindful of the industry sanctioning widespread movement of horses and said it was now likely to be only a two-day event.

“It’s a long way to go for (participants) and we don’t want to see the build up of people in any area,” Whiteman told Racing.com.

“And of course, on top of that, the Federal Government is reviewing every item across our community on a day-by-day basis.

“We have to be very mindful of any changes in that regard.”

Whiteman forecast changes will take place, with significant alteration of programs to be announced later in the week.

Victorian harness moves to zoned model

Victorian harness racing has adopted a zoned district model in order to help preserve the continuity of the sport.

Harness Racing Victoria has announced a new region-based racing calendar to limit travel for participants, in line with public health recommendations related to the outbreal of COVID-19.

“This model allows us to keep essential personnel and participants at race meetings. It also provides us the best opportunity to continue conducting race meetings,” HRV CEO Dayle Brown said.

Victoria has been divided into six regions, with meetings conducted at nine tracks – Inner West (Melton and Ballarat), West (Terang and Stawell), East (Kilmore and Cranbourne), North West (Mildura), Central (Bendigo) and North East (Shepparton).

All previous calendar feature events will be cancelled with details regarding prizemoney to announced.

Latest from Europe, Ireland and the UK

Courtesy of TDN Europe

Protocols for movement of mares released by ITBA

A new protocol for safe mare movement during the breeding season was announced by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association on Sunday.

Despite Irish racing being halted on March 24 due to the COVID-19 outbreak and Ireland beginning its own lockdown, breeding practices are allowed to continue.

The ITBA statement has issued the following advice:

- When transporting your mare to stud/boarding farm breeders should make sure they have one official form of picture identification with them and if an employee, have a letter from the employer indicating that you are an essential employee.

- Ensure there is a mares passport and any documentation provided by the stud farm.

- Make direct contact with the stud farm prior to departure, familiarise with protocols and ask for confirmation of covering time. In the unlikely event someone is stopped by the authorities, they should be informed that a permitted farming activity is being carried out

- There should be no unauthorised stops on route to the stud farm.

Latest from the USA

Courtesy of TDN America

Triple Crown deadline extended

The late Triple Crown nomination deadline, which was scheduled for Monday, will be extended to an as-yet undetermined later date under an extension agreed upon by racing officials at Churchill Downs Racetrack, the Maryland Jockey Club and the New York Racing Association.

While the date of the G1 Kentucky Derby has already been pushed back to September 5, officials are still considering possible alternate dates for the G1 Preakness S. and G1 Belmont S. When all three Triple Crown dates appear to be firm, a late Triple Crown nomination closing date will be announced.

A total of 347 horses were nominated to this year’s Triple Crown during the early phase, which closed January 25.

Equine Sales Company opens 2-year-old entries at Yearling Sale

The Equine Sales Company has announced that, due to the uncertainty of juvenile sales dates this spring, it will be offering a limited number of stalls to owners and consignors of 2-year-olds in training to be entered into its upcoming Consignor Select Yearling Sale. The auction will be held September 3 in Opelousas, Louisiana. There will not be an under-tack show before the sale.

Any 2-year-old in training contracted to sell must a video of horse training/galloping under tack, a full series of repository X-rays submitted to Equine Sales Company repository within 30 days of going through sales ring; and in addition, if (not required) consignor has an official published work at a recognised training centre and/or race track within 30 days of sale, it is to be submitted to Equine Sales Company for verification.

The 2-year-olds will be catalogued and sold after the Consignor Select Yearling portion of the sale. Deadline to submit the consignment contract and fee will be June 12.