Latest news with #RacingVictoria
Daily Telegraph
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Terrie Benfield is new Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Racing Minister Anthony Carbines has appointed greyhound industry executive Terrie Benfield as the next Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner. The five-year appointment, starting this week, ends a six-month recruitment following the resignation of predecessor Sean Carroll, who was headhunted to spearhead racing integrity in Tasmania. Benfield, a long-time public servant originally from a legal background, has held multiple positions at Greyhound Racing Victoria the past decade, including Executive General Manager Corporate and General Counsel. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The independent Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner monitors integrity issues across thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing in Victoria. It also oversees the integrity systems and processes of Racing Victoria, Harness Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing Victoria. 'Terrie Benfield is highly respected within the Victorian racing industry, and she will bring a wealth of regulatory experience to the role,' Carbines said. Originally published as Terrie Benfield appointed Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Flemington breaks with New Year's Day tradition and will stage meeting on New Year's Eve
Victoria Racing Club will break with tradition and host a landmark twilight meeting on New Year's Eve. Flemington has historically held feature races on New Year's Day, but the opportunity to draw a larger crowd and potentially new audience – with fireworks on and off the track – warranted the change. While planning for the NYE race card is in a formative stage, this masthead has established the last race could be held at about 7.30pm – two hours before the family-friendly early fireworks display at nearby Footscray Park. Flemington has the luxury of multiple grandstands with sweeping views of the Melbourne skyline, including the The Club Stand rooftop. VRC chief executive Kylie Rogers welcomed the New Year's Eve fixture. 'We are excited to introduce a twilight New Year's Eve format that expands our opportunity to welcome VRC members, the local community, families and our regular racing participants to bring in the New Year at spectacular Flemington and make the most of our outstanding facilities,' Rogers said. 'It is important that we continue to add new and engaging innovations to a well-established format of racing and events at Flemington.' Racing Victoria on Thursday announced a suite of changes to the 2025-26 fixture, starting August 1. As previously reported, Caulfield, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Geelong racecourses will host reallocated meetings during the Moonee Valley redevelopment. A decision on the 2026 Cox Plate host – a choice between frontrunner Flemington and Caulfield – is set to be announced after an RV board meeting next month. RV will also unveil the prizemoney schedule next month for the upcoming season. RV chief executive Aaron Morrison announced the fixture on Thursday. 'With up to three tracks (The Valley, Bendigo and Benalla) offline for an extended period following their spring features, we've had to make a spread of changes to the schedule across both metropolitan and country meetings next season,' Morrison said. 'We have a great network of tracks and customer facilities to accommodate these transfers, while we continue to invest in upgrades for the long-term benefit of the sport.' The 2025-26 season includes 530 Victorian race meetings, including 106 metropolitan fixtures, 368 country cards, 17 country non-TAB and 33 picnic meetings. There are 17 race-free days scheduled, the same as the current season. RV has cut 18 meetings from December to May as part of a 'strategic reduction' to improve field sizes and wagering 'with more night and event meetings'. The total number of night meetings has reduced from 57 to 52 meetings. 'We've built a schedule of 530 race meetings that best caters for the active racing population and balances our volume of meetings in summer and autumn where field sizes have been under stress,' Morrison said. 'Our goal is always to maximise returns to the industry and the 2025-26 Race Dates are structured to best achieve that in the knowledge that we'll have up to three tracks offline for a large portion of it. 'We are continuing to consult with stakeholders on the prizemoney schedule for next season and beyond that the active horse population. This includes discussions on an appropriate reallocation of prizemoney from those meetings removed from the schedule.'
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Victorian racing mourning the passing of country racing stalwart Brendan Dreschler
Dreschler was a passionate racing man, serving the industry as a Country Racing Victoria director from 2016 until his passing after a long battle with illness. Dreschler was also the chairman of the Bendigo Jockey Club for eight years as part of a 23-year stint on the club's committee. Dreschler was also instrumental in the introduction of the Golden Mile race day, which has become part of Victoria's autumn carnival in its position as a standalone Saturday fixture. The Brendan Dreschler Hurdle was named in his honour, starting its tenure at Bendigo before being moved to Pakenham in recent years. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The race will need to find a new home after Pakenham held its last jumps meeting in April. Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison hailed Dreschler's contribution to racing. 'On behalf of everyone at Racing Victoria, I extend our deepest sympathies to Brendan Dreschler's wife Pam, and his extended family and friends. Brendan faced his illness with the same fierce determination that defined his more than 20 years in racing administration,' Morrison said. The Bendigo Jockey Club is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Brendan Drechsler, a cherished member of our community and a stalwart of the racing and emergency services sectors. Brendan's association with the Bendigo Jockey Club spanned over two decades, during which he… — Bendigo Jockey Club (@_BendigoJC) May 25, 2025 'As the long-term Chairman of the Bendigo Jockey Club and a Country Racing Victoria board member, he played a hugely influential role in the promotion and advancement of racing across the state of Victoria. 'He was a particularly passionate advocate for jumps racing, and to have a race named in his honour is testament to his standing in the sport.' Dreschler owned a car yard in Bendigo and worked in his local community as part of the Country Fire Authority, serving as Captain of the Sedgwick branch for many years.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
‘What a clown show': Dr Turf slams Racing Victoria job cuts
Sport commentator John Rothfield has slammed Racing Victoria's decision to axe on-air media talent in a cost-cutting move that brings the curtain down on Terry Bailey's race-calling career. Racing Victoria sacked 15 per cent of its administration and media workforce this week as the industry continues to deal with an $11.8 million financial year loss and falling wagering profits - down 5 per cent on the past financial year. Two inside sources not qualified to speak on behalf of Racing Victoria said Bailey, the state's No.2 caller behind Matt Hill, was told on Tuesday he would no longer call races for The sources said other names to be leaving included trackside presenter James Tzaferis and reporter Ben Sporle. Editor-in-chief and general manager of content Paul Tatnell has announced his departure via social media. Loading The sources said Bailey was still in conversations with Racing Victoria to continue his weekly program Tuesdays With Terry. Rothfield, known as 'Dr Turf', lashed out after news of the cuts spread this week, saying good, talented people had paid the price for 'third-rate executives endorsed by a self-interested board'. 'What a clown show Racing Victoria is,' Dr Turf posted on X.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘What a clown show': Dr Turf slams Racing Victoria job cuts
Sport commentator John Rothfield has slammed Racing Victoria's decision to axe on-air media talent in a cost-cutting move that brings the curtain down on Terry Bailey's race-calling career. Racing Victoria sacked 15 per cent of its administration and media workforce this week as the industry continues to deal with an $11.8 million financial year loss and falling wagering profits - down five per cent on the past financial year. Two inside sources not qualified to speak on behalf of Racing Victoria said Bailey, the state's No.2 caller behind Matt Hill, was told on Tuesday he would no longer call races for The sources said other names to be leaving included trackside presenter James Tzaferis and reporter Ben Sporle. Editor-in-chief and general manager of content Paul Tatnell has announced his departure via social media. Loading The sources said Bailey was still in conversations with Racing Victoria to continue his weekly program Tuesdays With Terry. Rothfield, known as 'Dr Turf', lashed out after news of the cuts spread this week, saying good, talented people had paid the price for 'third-rate executives endorsed by a self-interested board'. 'What a clown show Racing Victoria is,' Dr Turf posted on X.
