Freedman says states should share in spring

TRAINER Richard Freedman says Melbourne and Sydney should unite and start spring racing later in the year.

Freedman, who was part of the training partnership with brothers Lee, Anthony and Michael that netted five Melbourne Cups, said the benefits of the showcase carnival pushing into December far outweighed the negatives.

He said better weather, more clear air away from sports such as AFL and rugby league and an ability to extend race days were among factors that would benefit the industry. Freedman said racing needed to be refreshed.

“We have to take care of Perth and the other states and make sure they get accommodated, but for the eastern states I think racing in that season between September and December would be ideal,’’ he said. “Instead it starts in late July and goes through and is basically all over by the middle of November. I think our peak period should probably be in November.

“You’ve got your other benefits, too. You’re well into daylight savings, which I think is helpful because you can run the race meetings a bit later in the day, your weather is starting to get more consistency to it, so you’re likely to get more good days and less of that ridiculous spring weather which can be hot one day and cold the next. I think people, once the footy’s over, they’re ready to launch into the next (sporting) season, and racing’s nearly over by the time they do that.”

Victoria Racing Club chairman Amanda Elliott said yesterday she would be “more than happy” for NSW to start its spring racing later.

“In fact, I encourage them to do so,” she said.

But Freedman argued that a collective approach would benefit racing.

“I think now’s the time to start taking a fresh look at things and saying, ‘OK, perhaps what we have been doing for the last 30 or 40 years is not the best we can do’,” he said.

Star jockey Damien Oliver said the rich tradition of the Cup carnival had to be respected, but Freedman said there was always scope for change.

“Melbourne Cup day wasn’t always the first Tuesday in November,” he said.