Leading trainer Bjorn Baker has taken aim at what he sees as the excessive purses offered for features during the Sydney spring, saying races such as the Golden Eagle and The Big Dance would attract the same quality field with substantially less prize money.
Baker, a multiple Group 1-winning trainer who is based at Warwick Farm, said in his written submission to the Rosehill Select Committee inquiry that he was concerned that the Australian Turf Club says it can't afford to invest $12 million a year on maintenance when the club’s five most valuable races are worth a combined $45 million.
“While I have been the beneficiary of such prize money, I and others would contend that some races have prize money that is beyond their standing,” he said.
“For example, the Golden Eagle is worth $10 million and the Big Dance $3 million (this is the sixth most valuable race held at the ATC). If these races were worth less, I contend they would still attract the same quality of racehorses in the field.”
Baker had four runners in The Big Dance last year but said the field did not warrant such premium prize money, and believes the same result would have been achieved for $1 million.
He said that was significant while training facilities were falling below standard.
“As a trainer in Sydney the prize money on offer has been a great benefit but the facilities available to trainers in Sydney are substandard,” he said.
“The Rosehill boxes and training precinct are the most modern, largest and well-anaged stables in Sydney. The stabling is of huge importance to the health and wellbeing of the horses and modern, clean and safe stabling is imperative in the current environment.”
“If Sydney is to maintain its standing in global racing it needs to invest far more in its training and racing facilities, not consider selling off its most valuable asset.”
Baker also told the Committee that he believed that the mooted proposal to relocate racing from Rosehill to a site at the Brickpit at Homebush was not practical.
“As a former resident of both Wentworth Point and Rhodes I used to run around the Brickpit and its surrounds on a daily basis and, being somewhat familiar with the topography, roads and wildlife zones I do not believe this is a feasible option as a racecourse,” he said.
For Baker, the broader debate over the future of Rosehill has been a net negative for the image of racing.
“The talk of billions of dollars has not helped us with the general public who already perceive racing as elitist; when in reality the majority of industry participants are under financial pressure,” he said.
Warwick Barr
Baker’s was one of around 15 additional submissions to the Select Committee published on Tuesday. Submissions from prominent breeder and owner Debbie Kepitis also put forward her concerns about the ATC’s proposal to close and sell off Rosehill.
“I am alarmed by the prospect of Rosehill being demolished,” Kepitis, the part-owner of Winx and daughter of leviathan owner and breeder Bob Ingham, said.
A submission from prominent breeder and ATC member Brian Nutt was also published highlighting what he said were areas of significant concern relating to the governance of racing that have been exposed by the proposal to sell Rosehill.
Twin Hills Stud principal Olly Tait also stated his objection to the Rosehill proposal, arguing that neither Racing NSW nor the ATC has the expertise to realise the expected value of the Rosehill site.
“Neither Racing NSW (which is the regulator of horse racing in New South Wales) nor the Australian Turf Club (the convenor of Sydney racing and the owner of Rosehill Racecourse) have the purpose nor the board / executive experience to effectively move this asset from being for the use of horse racing to a commercial property divestment,” Tait said.
