Latest news with #racing industry
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Victoria could save nearly $500m over 10 years by scrapping greyhound racing, estimates show
The Victorian government could save almost half a billion dollars if it follows Tasmania in phasing out greyhound racing in the state, according to independent analysis. A policy costing by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), to be released on Thursday, estimates the government would save $451.6m between 2025–26 and 2035–36 if it stopped subsidising greyhound racing and closed the industry. The figure is based on an estimated $687.4m drop in government spending on the industry over the decade, offset by a $235.8m loss in revenue, as Victorians would no longer be able to bet on greyhound races held in the state. The analysis said the government 'increased ongoing support' to the entire Victorian racing industry, which includes thoroughbred and harness racing, in 2024. This was through a higher point of consumption tax on wagering revenue, which was increased to 15% from 10%, with half of the revenue going to racing, and a funding deed providing $90m annually. The PBO analysis didn't factor in the 'risk or cost of potential legal claims against the Victorian government' from breaking agreements, such as current racing club or racecourse licences or its wagering contract with Tabcorp. Sign up: AU Breaking News email The report was commissioned by Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, who said she was 'not surprised' but 'absolutely appalled' to learn how much the Victorian government was subsiding the industry. 'For this government to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars supporting the greyhound racing industry while they fail to fund the operation of new women's crisis shelters, fail to meet their Gonski requirement, fail to adequately fund mental health care and fail to properly support regional Victorians is frankly astounding,' Purcell said. She said according to the Coalition of Protection of Greyhounds, which collects publicly available stewards' reports after meets, 29 dogs have died on racetracks in Victoria this year. 'Meanwhile, Tasmania has made a principled and ethical decision after one dog, their Greyhound of the Year, was killed on July 28,' Purcell said. 'It certainly says a lot about the direction of the Victorian Labor government when even the Liberals are doing better than them on animal protection.' The Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, on Sunday announced his Liberal government would end funding for greyhound racing in the state by 2029, effectively winding up the industry. In May, a report by economist Saul Eslake into the Tasmanian greyhound industry found the state government funded the sport 'more generously than any other jurisdiction, to the tune of $12.70 per head of population in 2023-24'. This includes by returning 80% of revenue from its point of consumption tax to racing. Eslake told Guardian Australia greyhound racing 'likes to style itself as an industry' but relies on the 'public purse' in most states. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We don't talk about the football industry or the basketball industry or the tennis industry,' he said. 'Racing likes to call itself an industry, so maybe its claims ought to be tested in the same way as when another industry comes along wanting a handout. It should be subject to the same rigorous scrutiny.' The Victorian racing minister, Anthony Carbines, on Monday said he had no plans to end greyhound racing in the state, describing the Tasmanian government's announcement as a 'desperate' attempt to secure the support of crossbench MPs after failing to win a majority at the recent state election. 'No one's safe in Tasmania. Throw everyone overboard to form a majority,' Carbines said. He said greyhound racing generated $850m a year in economic activity and employed almost 5,000 people in full-time work in Victoria. 'The government here in Victoria backs greyhound racing,' Carbines said. In 2018, the ACT banned greyhound racing. New South Wales proposed a ban in 2016 before then premier Mike Baird backflipped after a backlash. Last year, an inquiry into the industry in the state was called, following allegations of widespread animal abuse.
News.com.au
17-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘This phone call was certainly different': How trainer Brad Widdup hooked up with The Everest slotholder Michael Gregg and Mulberry Racing
Trainers are used to getting phone calls from prospective owners but rarely do they go as well as the one Brad Widdup received in late 2019. Widdup 's phone rang out of the blue from an interested businessman looking to get involved in the industry as an owner. The caller was Sydney billionaire businessman Michael Gregg. 'It was one in a million,' Widdup says. 'You get a lot of calls inquiring and for one reason or another, nothing comes of it. 'This phone call was certainly different. 'Like any owner, it can be luck of the draw and a lot of people go to the big trainers because they are successful and are in the paper all the time so that's who they see. 'There are a lot of other good trainers out there that need clientele to show their wares.' Widdup's stable is not dominated by syndicators with consistent support from the likes of Frank Mittaga, Chris Lawler, Brad Hunt, Adrian Whittinham and John Cordina. Gregg, who made his money as an early investor in Wisetech Global and private equity, is just the latest to throw his support behind the astute horseman. His Mulberry Racing has been expanding its racing footprint, doing so with a relatively low profile. That changed last month with the purchase of a slot in this year's The Everest. Mulberry Racing snapped up the slot left vacant by Star Entertainment and will pick a runner for the race for the first time when the $20 million feature takes centre stage again at Royal Randwick. • Rosehill Turf Talk: Cohen spies a $3 special on Saturday 'People like him investing in the industry is important, we need new people,' Widdup said. 'That is what The Everest has done, it is bringing new investors into the industry and it's exciting. 'Not only does it create interest in racing but in business as well. 'It's a strong talking point and its creating interest away from racing.' An obvious goal would be to see the Mulberry colours carried in The Everest with a horse they own. Group 2 Challenge Stakes victor Jedibeel is an obvious candidate but would only take his place in the field if Widdup thought he'd be competitive. Picking the right horse is the top priority. 'One day I am sure he would like to have his own horse but he is not going to put a Class 1 horse in The Everest and I am the same,' Widdup said. 'I don't want to run a horse in The Everest and get beaten 25 lengths. I don't think Jedibeel would get beat 25 lengths but he has raced against the one of the favourites Briasa and drawn bad gates both times. 'I am not going to talk up Jedibeel is an Everest horse or anything like that but he is not going to be far away.' Jedibeel lets down and WINS the Challenge Stakes! ðŸ�† @BWiddupRacing | @G1TySchil — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025 • Jedibeel went for a break after finishing eighth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 in May but has returned to work to begin preparing for the spring. 'Jedibeel had a little break in Queensland but has come back,' Widdup said. 'I just have to be careful where I go with him. He may have to go to Melbourne. 'I don't want to be pushing him against the good ones straight up. 'He is at that level now but there is plenty of races and nothing is set in concrete yet.' All of Mulberry's horses wear the bumblebee colours Gregg's University Of NSW cricket club. They will be back on show this weekend with two-year-old prospects Tequisoda, You're The Choice and Gladstone Grande all acceptors in races at Gosford and Hawkesbury. Emerging colt Nashville Jack, fourth in this year's Silver Slipper, was a winner of a 900m trial at Rosehill Gardens and isn't far away from a return to the races too. There just a few of a pool of young horses that Widdup hopes can make their mark in the coming years. 'We have a lot of young horses and some will be good and others won't,' Widdup said. • Pride poised to continue winter hot streak at Rosehill 'Nashville Jack is obviously the standout at this stage and is a very straightforward horse. 'He has a good attitude and action so hopefully he can keep improving.' While Widdup has a plethora of young talent to look forward to, he will rely on one of his proven performers at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Tough galloper Phearson ($17) will be looking for a change of luck when he leads the stable's assault in the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m). The seven-year-old hasn't won since his Group 3 Liverpool City Cup victory last March but has been hampered by bad gates in recent starts and can bounce back to top form. 'Phearson is going as good as I've ever had him going but he's not had any luck and keeps getting bad gates,' Widdup said. 'It's not helping him but I am more than happy with the way he is going. 'The horse looks enormous. 'I am sure Tom (Sherry) will be confident. He knows the horse quite well and thinks it's going well, just not getting the luck.' 'I wouldn't be shocked if he won on Saturday, if he puts it together he is going good enough.' Phearson leads the whole way to take out the final race at Randwick! @BWiddupRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 2, 2024 Bella Khadijah ($15) will go in search of back-to-back victories when the daughter of Pierata contests the Stuart Macdermid Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m). The three-year-old filly was scratched from Wednesday's meeting at Randwick Kensington in the same race her stablemate Hasty Honey scored in. 'The reason I split them up, she would have been a three-year-old filly carrying 60kg,' Widdup said. 'Hasty Honey was going well so I didn't want smash her by doing that. 'You are going to Saturday grade but carrying three kilos less in a three-year-old race. 'She is going well. Is she going well enough to win? I am not sure. 'Mentally she is not there yet but she has ability to.' Widdup is expecting another strong showing from Art's Alive ($11) in the Myplates Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) with Jay Ford aboard. The daughter of Snitzel gave a price at odds first-up when narrowly beaten by Hi Dubai in an 1100m event at the same track. 'Art's Alive went terrific first-up and came through it good,' Widdup said. 'I can't knock her at all and she should run well again.'
