Victorians stand firm in turf war
RACING Victoria has backed 150 years of history to withstand Racing NSW’S brazen $9.5 million assault on Melbourne’s spring carnival.
Racing NSW yesterday launched three new races to go head to head with Victoria’s biggest race days, including The Golden Eagle, a $7.5 million 1500m event for fouryear-olds to be held at Rosehill on Flemington’s Derby Day.
NSW has also created the $1 million Bondi Stakes (1600m) for three-year-olds to be run on Cox Plate day and the $1 million The Golden Gift (1200m) for two-yearolds which will compete with Mackinnon Stakes day at Flemington on November 9.
Next year’s $14 million The Everest will run at Randwick on Caulfield Cup day.
Racing Victoria’s chief Giles Thompson said the announcements would not challenge the pre-eminence of the Melbourne spring racing carnival, which he called an iconic global event.
“The marquee events of the spring racing carnival
have been built over more than 150 years and retain an important place in the heart of Australians,” he said.
“This announcement is not going to change that.
“It (the spring carnival) has proven to be wonderful catalyst in growing Australian racing both locally and on the international stage.”
Last month, Racing Victoria launched the $5 million All-Star Mile, a 1600m race to debut at Flemington on March 16
But with yesterday’s announcement of The Golden Eagle, the country’s second richest race, Thompson called for a more collaborative national approach from racing administrators to better grow the racing audience.
The $7.3 million Golden Eagle will be funded from new revenue rather than drawing on existing NSW thoroughbred racing industry sources.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said the ambitious Sydney spring program would not have a negative impact on Melbourne.
“In any sport, you need to innovate to get the next generation and we will continue to reinvigorate and revamp our races,’’ V’landys said.
“The Golden Eagle is a four-year-old race and there is no four-year-old race in Melbourne in the spring.
“We have to have a presence in that time, it is the best time in Australia to race, no doubt about that.
“The (betting) turnover and participation by the crowds is much higher in those months ... we have a responsibility to the NSW racing industry to take advantage of that.’’
The Golden Eagle will be the third leg of the new “Golden Slam” at Rosehill, with a $5 million bonus offered to a horse that can win the Golden Slipper at two, the Golden Rose at three and the Golden Eagle as a four-yearold.