Industry News

• 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.

   
• Josh Adams escapes penalty for seminar incident

  Troubled apprentice Josh Adams will be asked to repeat a Racing NSW drug and awareness program following an incident at a seminar last month.

   
• Far north Qld Hendra virus tests due on weekend

  Results from the first round of Hendra tests for horses quarantined at a far north Queensland property are due this weekend.

   
• Palm Trees trimmed to stem Hendra virus spread

  Palm trees are being trimmed at NSW racecourses in a bid to stem the spread of the deadly Hendra virus.

   
• New Zealand races to be screened in UK

  New Zealand thoroughbred racing is to broadcast into the United Kingdom and Ireland under a new deal.

   
• NSW racetracks audited for Hendra virus

  All racetracks across NSW are being checked to see if horses are in danger of being exposed to the deadly Hendra virus.

   
• Randwick horse tests negative to Hendra virus

  There was a Hendra virus scare at Randwick racecourse on Thursday when a horse showed possible symptoms of the deadly infection.

   
• Big challenges for New Zealand racing industry

  The racing industry has largely lost its mainstream appeal and faces chronic issues, its new minister has been warned.