New South Wales takes knife to its operations, staff and stakes and Miracle Mile not exempt
By Barry Lichter • 3 May 2020
Feature racing and minimum stakes alike will be victims of Harness Racing New South Wales’ decision to cut its prize money and operational costs.
Sydney’s showcase Miracle Mile, which was run for $1 million in March - when won by former Lincoln Farms pacer King Of Swing - is expected to take a big hit with HRNSW announcing it has withdrawn its $300,000 funding of the race.
But more critically, from Monday week minimum stakes in New South Wales will be cut by 20% as betting continues to plummet in the wake of COVID-19.
Chairman Ken Brown said the closure of 3850 TABs, hotels and clubs, where it was customary for punters to meet mates and enjoy a drink and a bet, had impacted severely on betting.
The downturn in revenue was expected to be at least $7 million for the period ending June and $19.7 million for 2021 should the current circumstances persist.
“The board of HRNSW, in addition to drawing down on its Future Fund, has reluctantly found it necessary to impose a raft of savings measures” including:
- Reducing base prizemoney by 20%. Starting Monday, May 11 category A meeting races will carry base prizemoney of $5200 and category B meeting races will be contested for $4800. There are 1588 category A meeting races and 1584 category B meeting races conducted in the state each year. The directors of Club Menangle would determine what stakes it would offer for metropolitan and Tuesday meetings at Tabcorp Park.
- Cutting administrative (staff) and operations costs.
- Reducing feature race funding.
- Withdrawing drought assistance funding.
- Suspending infrastructure development. The Bathurst training centre development, Tamworth training centre refurbishment and Gold Crown Paceway property buy will be put on hold.
- Reducing or withdrawing discretionary funding arrangements with clubs and
- Reviewing the breeding schemes with stakeholders.
Brown said base prizemoney levels would be reinstated when betting levels recovered.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
