ATC fee hike adds to mounting cost pressures on Sydney trainers

Sydney trainers face another rise in business costs, with the Australian Turf Club increasing stable and track fees just as higher wages and proposed welfare technology threaten to add fresh financial burdens to their operations. 

In a triple whammy for ATC trainers, the timing of the hike comes a day after a national minimum wage ruling that will immediately increase the cost of employing stablehands, trackwork riders and other essential staff.

It also follows a Racing NSW proposal to introduce a welfare tool known as Sleip App, raising concerns about the associated costs of the technology.

Under the new ATC pricing structure, which takes effect at the start of the new racing season on August 1, track fees will rise from $9.59 to $10.07, while stable rental charges will increase from $13.13 to $13.78 – a 5 per cent lift across both categories.

It is the second increase for ATC trainers this year.

Rents were lifted by 3.8 per cent in February, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), following a backlash over a 10 per cent hike proposed in August.

The ATC maintains training tracks and stables at three of its four Sydney metropolitan venues – Randwick, Rosehill and Warwick Farm.

Affected trainers were notified this week of the new charges after ATC directors ratified the increases at a recent board meeting.

The ATC confirmed correspondence had been sent to trainers, following consultation meetings in May.

“We are committed to trying to keep the rising costs of business to a minimum,” the club said in a statement provided to The Straight.

“However, due to escalating costs across all aspects of our business operation, we have seen costs escalate well above the 5 per cent (rise). 

“The increase is merely to mitigate actual costs to provide stabling and training maintenance without recovering costs. 

“ATC has committed to reinvesting every dollar back into training and stabling maintenance. With each passing year, the ATC absorbs greater expenses, without passing on the full escalation to trainers, acknowledging the role trainers play in the industry. 

“The ATC sees trainers as its partners in the industry and are fully committed to working with trainers to provide the best training surfaces and facilities across all three training venues.” 

For most trainers, labour is already their biggest and least flexible expense, and the wage decision has added another unavoidable cost to operations that invariably run on thin margins.

A rent increase now adds a second layer of additional costs, lifting the baseline cost of doing business at a time when trainers say they have little room left to absorb new overheads.

But the ATC says it is not immune to inflationary pressures, often declaring its operating environment is becoming increasingly challenging under a Racing NSW funding model.

Over the past year, financial concerns have become intertwined with governance tensions between the ATC and Racing NSW that are being fought out in the NSW Court of Appeal.

“All of these fees go directly back into maintaining and improving our training facilities

Navesh Ramdhani

Racing NSW last week appealed its right to place the club into administration in a two-day hearing that followed the ATC’s Supreme Court victory in March.

The ATC says it has implemented a series of savings measures across its administration sector over the past 12 months, resulting in a $2.5 million reduction in operating costs.

“(We) have been open and transparent with trainers and the NSW Trainers Association regarding escalating costs and our intention to merely mitigate costs without recovering them in the next round of fee increases,” the statement said.

“There have been no reductions or cuts to stables and track maintenance. 

“These are considered essential services, and the board has been adamant that these costs not be reduced. Escalating costs such as fuel, fertiliser, and equipment spares have all escalated well beyond the 5 per cent, but the ATC has carried this cost and protected the trainers from the full weight of these expenses.

“ATC investment in tracks and stabling has grown 22 per cent over the past five years with only half of that being recovered via rental and other income.”

Outlining the changes in his letter to trainers, Nevesh Ramdhani, ATC’s Head of Racing and Wagering, said the increases formed part of the ATC’s budget planning for 2026/27.

“All of these fees go directly back into maintaining and improving our training facilities,” he said.

“What remains unchanged is our commitment to continued investment in training facilities across our venues, with a strong focus on horse welfare, safety and long‑term sustainability.

“We will continue to invest to ensure trainers have access to quality facilities to stable, train and race their horses.

The letter also set out the ATC’s broader priorities for FY27, including a renewed push to promote Sydney racing, expand engagement in western Sydney and broaden its reach across NSW and nationally.

“Trainers are central to that story, and we want to work more closely with them on promotions, events and initiatives over the coming year,” Ramdhani said.

In a separate letter sent to ATC members, chief executive Steve McMahon said recent extensive upkeep had been completed across Randwick, Rosehill and Warwick Farm.

Work across the three racecourses included waterproofing stable boxes, track renovations, and the installation of plastic running rails on dedicated training circuits.

A pest management and pigeon eradication program was also undertaken at Randwick, among 80 maintenance jobs at Sydney’s racing headquarters over the past six weeks.