Straight Up – Remote control – has racing’s future already arrived?
In this edition:
- Schweida and Wilson’s journey from Oink to a Doomben Cup start
- Restructure at Racing Victoria sees key faces depart
- The $5 billion Rosehill question that only the NSW government can answer
- Trading places – Tamac’s Mark Taylor prepares for life after the farm
Tucked away towards the bottom of a Racing NSW press release announcing the elevation of Tom Moxon to the position of chief steward, a reference to the regulator’s plans for his predecessor almost slipped by unnoticed.
In journalism vernacular, it would be unfair to say Racing NSW “buried the lede” because Moxon’s appointment is a significant one that carries great responsibility.
But what we found intriguing was that Railton, a veteran of the Australian stewarding ranks, is staying with Racing NSW in a senior role “remotely officiating race meetings via the new Stewards Control Room at Royal Randwick”.
It seems Racing NSW has built itself an NRL-style bunker – the type that allows off-field officials to correct mistakes or make decisions on behalf of the on-field referee.
Exact details of how this will operate are a bit light on at the moment. Will it be a case of adding an extra layer of raceday integrity or will this be the future for racing lawmen?
Perhaps the first clue to Racing NSW’s intentions to change how race meetings are controlled came last year.
News Corp outlets reported that Racing NSW had purchased a television production company for $5 million, buying out embattled Global Advance.
“It’s going to save us millions of dollars in racing. It’s all state-of-the-art equipment,” Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys said at the time.
In an industry so labour-intensive and costly to run, Racing NSW seems to have found a way to save a few bucks much in the same manner Tabcorp has done with its decision to have some race meetings broadcast from a remote venue.
It’s another example of rationalisation that has beset all parts of the industry recently. There was a human cost to this during the week when Racing Victoria announced job losses that included on-air talent in its media division known as Racing.com. It was our most read story of the year.
All this begs the question: how far away are we before a race such as the Group 1 Doomben Cup is called from a studio and officiated away from the racetrack?
It won’t happen on Saturday when Pride Of Jenni and Antino clash in a Doomben Cup that has been billed as a two-horse race.
But there’s one owner, who has made his pile as a pig farmer, hoping that will not be the case.
Darren Wilson appropriately once raced a horse called Oink but he is relying on a homebred called Miss Joelene to upset the favourites.
Schweida and Wilson’s journey from Oink to a Doomben Cup start
Miss Joelene is trained by Kelly Schweida, who also has Zousain filly Guac On going for three wins in a row in the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on Friday night.
The $1 million race will usher in the Magic Millions National Sale series that starts on Sunday and has horses such as Zougotcha and Atishu as Group 1 stars going to auction in the broodmare section.
Tamac Stud Farm will offer five mares and six foals over the next few days and while none will make headlines, their sale is significant as Mark Taylor looks to exit the commercial breeding business, putting the ‘for sale’ sign up on his Walcha farm.
The Gold Coast sales will be overshadowed by an Australian Turf Club members’ vote that will decide the future of Rosehill racecourse in western Sydney.
That vote will be finalised during an extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday and this week Bren O’Brien has provided a thought-provoking question about a potential sale that only the NSW government can answer.
The $5 billion Rosehill question that only the NSW government can answer
What you may have missed this week:
- Bookmakers at odds over early betting changes
- A $139 million reality check – Victorian government’s racing tax shortfall
- Unibet fined $1 million for breaches of self-exclusion regulations
- Prescribed pari-mutuel – Fancy a mandatory bet with your racehorse share?
- Orton does it his way – long-serving Vinery general manager steps away from leading Hunter Valley stud
- Run The Numbers – Fastnet Rock hunts a rare double
- Rowe On Monday – Chester weaves his Magic in Mongolia, Journalism’s Coolmore future, catalogue clue to Japanese winner and Lights out?
Don’t forget to check out this week’s Straight Talk Podcast where we talk racing’s biggest issues, the wagering challenge and preview the Magic Millions Weanling and Broodmare Sales.
Subscribe or listen on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or Podbean or watch below.
Enjoy your racing weekend,
Warwick Barr
Senior Editor
The Straight
