Victorian Government injects $16 million into racing

The Victorian Government will boost its contribution to the thoroughbred industry by more than $16 million to assist with the industry’s recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While racing has continued, Racing Victoria has predicted the coronavirus pandemic would mean a $80 million hit to the sport’s bottom line through lost revenue.

The State Government, led by Premier Daniel Andrews, will help ease that pain by contributing an additional $16 million as part of a $44 million contribution across all three racing codes.

RV Chief Executive Giles Thompson welcomed the support and told RSN the money should see the industry avoid further prizemoney cuts and keep club funding at current levels.

"First thing is making sure there are no further prizemoney cuts necessary,” Thompson said.

"At the moment we have (cut) 20 per cent (of prizemoney) in metro and 10 per cent country. But with the huge revenue impact we were having to consider how we might also get through an extended period of restricted racing.

"We are now going to be able to keep those prizemoney levels as they are. We are going to be able to keep club funding at levels they have historically been at.

"We are able to look potentially to further support some of those clubs that have been really badly hit during this period and we will also be able to continue with the animal and welfare projects that we've previously announced as well.

"It's really underpinning and supporting what we are doing in racing and ensuring jobs are protected and the risks to the clubs are also mitigated."

Larneuk Stud reduces fees

Victoria's Larneuk Stud has significant reductions across the board for its stallion roster in 2020.

All fees have been reduced by at least $1000, with Cluster to stand at $5500 (inc GST), O'Lonhro $4400 and Wolf Cry $3300 (inc GST).

The new roster structure represents a 20 per cent decrease on last spring.

“Larneuk has been standing stallions for over 20 years but we’ve never seen anything like the current situation,” Larneuk Stud's Neville Murdoch said.

“You can try and put a positive spin on things, but breeders – the very breeders who support the Victorian industry, year in and year out – are facing some tough times.

“Despite everyone knowing that the fee is actually the cheapest thing about keeping a broodmare, many owners are going to leaving them ‘dry’ in the paddock this year. The sad irony is, that this is the exact time you should be breeding, particularly given that demand will be even greater on the other side of all this coronavirus mess.

“We just want to look after those who have looked after us and will certainly be doing deals on multiple bookings.”

Tassie trials return confirmed  

Tasracing has confirmed that the State Government have given permission for barrier trials to resume next week ahead of a return to racing in the island state of June 13.

The opportunity to schedule barrier trials from May 18 came about after discussions with the Minister for Racing Jane Howlett and public health officials.

“It is obviously an excellent outcome for racing industry participants in Tasmania who have expressed a desire to return to racing as soon as practical,” Tasracing Chief Executive Paul Eriksson said in a statement. “This is an important first step to racing resumption.

"As noted previously, Tasracing, in conjunction with the industry, prepared a Return to Racing Plan.

“We will now be working closely with each code on the specifics of the trials, and with Workplace Standards to ensure our trial-day procedures are in line with requirements to limit COVID-19 infection risks.”

Tasmania has not held any racing since April 2, when the State Government shut it down on public health advice.

Maher, Eustace face frusemide charge

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will front the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a diuretic charge after Frusemide, otherwise known as Lasix, was detected in a sample taken from one of their horses after it won at Sale in February.

Racing Victoria stewards on Wednesday issued a charge after an investigation into the circumstances that led to Piccatric (Fastnet Rock) returning a post-race blood sample for Frusemide on February 28 this year.

Frusemide is a diuretic and its presence is banned on race day and Maher and Eustace were charged under Australian Rule of Racing 240(2).

Rising Red retired

Group 1-placed stayer Rising Red (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) has been retired.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding suffered a third major injury in a track gallop on Tuesday.

"He galloped on Tuesday and pulled up sore in a gallop," Busuttin said. "He had a fractured fetlock, so he has gone in to have surgery today (Wednesday), but he will be in recuperation, be retired, and we'll find a good home for him."

The 6-year-old, placed in a G1 New Zealand Derby, and a winner of the G3 Premier's Cup, had a history of suspensory ligament issues.

"My highlight with him was probably running second in the Derby. Even though it was extremely frustrating to get beaten, he got beaten by a super horse in Gingernuts," Busuttin said.

"He did it tough three-deep without cover for the first half of the race, so it was a pretty brave effort."

Graham stood down, awaits penalty

Perth apprentice Chris Graham has been stood down after being found guilty of failing to give Pushin’ Shapes (Viscount) every possible chance in a race at Ascot last Saturday.

Western Australian stewards opened an inquiry into Graham’s ride on Pushin’ Shapes, who finished seventh of 10, beaten 3l, on the day of the meeting and having completed their investigation on Tuesday evening, confirmed the apprentice had been found guilty and would be stood down from his rides at Ascot on Wednesday, with a penalty to be determined by the end of the week.

“Mr Graham has been found guilty but a penalty has not been handed down,” WA Chief Steward Brad Lewis said. “We will look to provide him with the details of his penalty by the end of the week.

“With the severity of the charges that he has been found guilty of, we have decided to remove him from his rides.”

Queensland plans for Subpoenaed

Unlucky filly Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) is headed to Queensland to target black-type races.

Subpoenaed was luckless when finishing fourth at Randwick last Saturday and trainer Chris Waller will now send her towards the G3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben on May 30.

The winner of the Fred Best Classic gains automatic entry into the G1 Stradbroke H. (1400 metres) at Eagle Farm a week later.

Santa Anita optimistic on reopening

While Los Angeles County’s stay-at-home order expected to be extended until July, officials at Santa Anita said that they still remain optimistic about opening this Friday with strict protocols in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“We remain optimistic about running on Friday,” said Mike Willman, the director of publicity at Santa Anita. Track officials said that that would be the only statement the track would offer Tuesday.

L.A. County’s Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that the order would “with all certainty” be extended for the next three months during a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times, which reported that the timeline would only change if there were a “dramatic change to the virus and tools at hand.”

Santa Anita sent a text to horsemen this week telling them to be prepared to enter their horses Tuesday for a spectator-free race card Friday, the day the “Safer at Home” order was expected to expire. The county did not specifically grant its permission to Santa Anita to race. The track has been closed for racing since March 27.

Derby, Oaks clear hurdle to stay at Epsom

The G1 Investec Derby and G1 Investec Oaks cleared a major hurdle in the race to remain at their historic home at Epsom Downs, with the Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators giving their backing at a special council meeting on Tuesday evening to the Jockey Club’s plans to stage the two Classics on alternate dates, behind closed doors and with the public areas surrounding the track temporarily closed to the public.

The Derby and Oaks have been staged at Epsom every year since their respective inceptions in 1780 and 1779 bar the war years (1915 to 1918 and 1940 to 1945), when they were held in Newmarket. Jockey Club Racecourses announced on April 7 that the Derby and Oaks would be moved from their traditional early June slots as a result of racing’s shutdown due to COVID-19. Racing in Britain looks likely to resume with other sports no earlier than June 1.

Delia Bushell, group chief executive of the Jockey Club, said, “we are working hard on a practical and deliverable plan to stage the 2020 Investec Derby and Investec Oaks at their traditional home, without a crowd and once racing is approved to resume by government. I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators for their backing today. These two Classics play a vital role in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries, so it’s of great importance for them to be able to go ahead during this difficult period. Our teams now look forward to working with the British Horseracing Authority and local authorities to bring our plan to life.”