ATC fee hike adds to mounting cost pressures on Sydney trainers
The Australian Turf Club will raise stable rents and track fees at its Sydney racecourses, adding a financial squeeze on trainers preparing to deal with a steep jump in labour costs.
Warwick Barr's Latest Articles
Under the influence – Victorian regulator warns gambling promoters of legal risks
Australia's booming gambling influencer culture is facing unprecedented scrutiny, with Victoria's watchdog warning social media personalities that some wagering content could breach laws and attract fines exceeding $24,000.
Thoroughbred Park redevelopment enters key stage as government deliberates
Thoroughbred Park’s proposed redevelopment has moved into a crucial phase, with the Canberra Racing Club awaiting a recommendation from ACT planning authorities before the proposal is considered by the Legislative Assembly.
A blank canvas turns into a potential Derby masterpiece in waiting for Mirfin
A horse named Michelangelo has given Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin an unlikely Queensland Derby runner and revived memories of the days he spent around Bart Cummings, TJ Smith and Victoria Derby winner Red Anchor.
The Derby dilemma – Why Australia’s young stayers are paying the price
For generations, Australia’s best three-year-old stayers naturally progressed into spring Cups contenders. Trainers say that pathway is becoming harder to navigate with every passing season.
Hustle and bustle – Doomben Cup showcases Cataldo’s keen eye for horseflesh
Waikato bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo thrives in New Zealand’s fast-moving trading market, with his instinct for a thoroughbred’s potential making the Doomben Cup more than just a two-horse race.
‘No one is trying to buy it’ – WA TAB future and racing review under scrutiny in estimates hearing
The future of the WA TAB, political appointments, money-laundering fears and racing’s shrinking revenue base have collided in a budget estimates exchange between Western Australian Racing Minister Paul Papalia and opposition spokesman Lachlan Hunter.
Black market boom – At nearly $6 trillion, unregulated gambling becomes world’s third largest economy
A report from Gaming Compliance International estimates unregulated online gambling generated a staggering US$5.9 trillion in wagering turnover in 2025 - a figure larger than the gross domestic product of every nation except the United States and China.
Stirring memories – Taylor Marshall’s fresh start meets family history in Doomben 10,000
Taylor Marshall will chase a breakthrough Group 1 victory aboard Spicy Martini in the Doomben 10,000, the race his late father John Marshall won three consecutive times in the 1980s.
Queensland racing looks to Olympics as gateway to international arena
Brisbane racing officials are examining how preparations for the 2032 Olympic Games can be used to help turn its winter carnival into a viable destination for overseas horses.
