2019 MISSION STATEMENT TO ESTABLISH A DYNAMIC NSW THOROUGHBRED RACING INDUSTRY WHICH ADVANCES PARTICIPATION, ENSURES INTEGRITY AND DELIVERS QUALITY RACING AT ALL LEVELS VISION CONTENTS Provide a committed, user-friendly, Chairman’s Report 2 professional and cost-effective Chief Executive’s Report 3 administration which uses best business practice in serving all Industry 12 aspects of the NSW Thoroughbred Horse Welfare 17 Racing Industry. Regulatory 20 Provide Leadership and Strategic Integrity 27 Direction to ensure the NSW Veterinary Services 30 Thoroughbred Racing Industry achieves revenue growth, Laboratory 32 profitability and greater returns to Marketing, Media & Digital 34 Owners and Industry Participants. BOBS 38 Provide a Racing Product that Appeals 40 appeals to all demographics and Insurance 42 takes all actions necessary to Industry Welfare 45 guarantee integrity and confidence in the sport. In particular, ensuring RICG 46 animal welfare is of the highest IT 47 standard. Obituaries 48 Maximise betting turnover on NSW Group & Listed Winners 49 Thoroughbred race meetings by Financial Statements 53 accommodating punters’ needs and desires, and work with Tabcorp to Front cover: Sydney’s champions for the 2018- promote new wagering products 19 racing season (L-R): Chris Waller; Robbie that reflect changes in demand. Dolan; James McDonald and Winx CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1 MISSION STATEMENT R Balding AO (Russell) A G Hodgson AM (Tony) P N V’landys AM (Peter) Dr S Cooke (Saranne) CHAIRMAN DEPUTY CHAIRMAN RACING NSW CHIEF EXECUTIVE Appointed 19 December 2015 Re-appointed Re-appointed Appointed 23 February 2004 Attended 9 meetings 19 December 2015 19 December 2016 Attended 9 meetings Attended 9 meetings Attended 9 meetings S Tuxen (Simon) A Shepherd AO (Anthony) The Hon G Souris AM M Crismale (Michael) Appointed 3 November 2016 Appointed 1 January 2017 (George) Appointed 20 December 2018 Attended 8 meetings Attended 8 meetings Appointed 19 December 2017 Attended 4 meetings Attended 8 meetings PAST MEMBER OF THE BOARD The Hon K P Greene (Kevin) Re-appointed 19 December 2017 Retired 18 December 2018 Attended 4 meetings FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD Under section 13(1) of the Thoroughbred Racing Act in the State and the protection of the public interest (NSW) 1996, the Board has the following functions: as it relates to the horse racing industry, a) all the functions of the principal club for New South d) functions with respect to the insuring of participants Wales and committee of the principal club for New in the horse racing industry, being functions of the South Wales under the Australian Rules of Racing, kind exercised by the AJC on the commencement of b) to control, supervise and regulate horse racing in the this section, and such other functions with respect State, to insurance in the horse racing industry as may be b1) such functions in relation to the business, economic prescribed by the regulations, development and strategic development of the horse e) such functions as may be conferred or imposed racing industry in the State as are conferred or on Racing NSW by or under the Australian Rules of imposed by this Act, Racing or any other Act, c) to initiate, develop and implement policies f) such functions with respect to horse racing in considered conducive to the promotion, strategic New South Wales as may be prescribed by the development and welfare of the horse racing industry regulations. Annual Report 2019 2 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Hon. Kevin Anderson, MP This race generated enormous interest around Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation the country areas of New South Wales and the Parliament House novel method adopted for the selection of slot Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000 holders created added interest among racegoers and non-racegoers alike. During the year Racing NSW also announced Dear Minister, the introduction of The Golden Eagle, a newly instituted race for four-year-old horses which will n accordance with Section 30 of the carry prizemoney of $7.5 million. Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996, I am pleased It will be run over 1500 metres at Sydney’s Ito submit to you the 23rd Annual Report of Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 2 November 2019. Racing NSW (formerly the NSW Thoroughbred Of the $7.5 million prizemoney for the race, Racing Board) covering the period 1 July 2018 to 10% will be donated to charity. In this regard, 30 June 2019. the connections of each runner will nominate Board meetings were held on nine occasions Russell Balding AO a charity that has been accredited with Racing throughout this period and I again acknowledge Chairman NSW and that charity will receive 10% of the contributions and support of my fellow Board prizemoney won by their horse. Members who possess an excellent mix of financial, commercial The Golden Eagle will also be the third leg of the new Golden and industry experience. Slam at Rosehill, with a $5 million bonus offered to connections of During the year the Hon. Kevin Greene retired from the Board any horse that can win the Golden Slipper, at two, the Golden Rose following the expiration of his term of office. I wish to place on at three and The Golden Eagle at four. record the Board’s appreciation of Kevin’s significant contributions In accordance with a plan to extend and enhance spring racing in to the industry, firstly as NSW Minister for Racing and more Sydney and surrounds, several new races have been programmed recently as a Board Member of Racing NSW. and prizemoney for others has been increased. Additionally, One of the primary objectives of Racing NSW, as set out in two new $1 million races (The Gong and The Hunter) have been the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996, is to initiate, develop and scheduled for Kembla Grange and Newcastle. implement policies considered conducive to the promotion, During the year we continued to expand the Equine Welfare strategic development and welfare of the horse racing industry in Program which incorporates Racing NSW’s rehoming operations as New South Wales. well as the key joint ventures and partnerships with community and Therefore, in accordance with this objective the Board has charity groups. continued to develop strategies and policies designed not only to This program is an essential element of our policy to ensure the improve the financial well-being of the many thousands of persons welfare of all current and retired Thoroughbred racehorses. who participate in the industry in New South Wales, but also to Apart from the property acquired at Capertee to house the guarantee the welfare of horses engaged in the industry. Equine Welfare Program, we recently purchased Princes Farm, Increased funding generated following the enactment of enabling previously owned by the late Bart Cummings, and a property legislation by the Government over recent years has provided a adjacent to Kembla Grange Racecourse formerly owned by the late significant boost to the racing economy (Race Fields, Tax Parity and Bede Murray. In addition, we acquired the property housing Scone Point of Consumption Tax). Racecourse and the Hunter Equine Research Foundation. This additional revenue has allowed the introduction of major We are also negotiating to purchase several other properties prizemoney increases which have resulted in returns to owners and a key strategic initiative as identified in our Strategic Plan is during the year increasing by 9.72% to a total of $278.5 million. to identify and acquire a suitable site in an area on the outskirts Apart from increasing prizemoney for ‘bread and butter’ races of Sydney to establish a large-scale training complex similar to which ensure the ongoing viability of all sections of the industry, complexes in several overseas racing jurisdictions. Racing NSW has also continued to develop and fund feature races On behalf of the Board I thank and acknowledge the Chief and race meetings. Executive, Peter V’landys AM and the staff of Racing NSW who These meetings provide added stimulus and increased publicity continue to provide outstanding service to the Board and the NSW for the industry and attract new entrants as well as increased Thoroughbred Racing Industry and should be congratulated on their investment by existing participants and racegoers. achievements during the year. Included amongst these feature meetings are The I must also congratulate Peter on his appointment as Chair of Championships, The Everest and The Kosciuszko. the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and the National The Championships was conducted successfully for the sixth Rugby League (NRL). occasion and rightfully cemented its place as the Grand Final of Finally, I would like to thank you and your personal staff, as well Australian Thoroughbred Racing. as your Departmental Officers for your assistance and support The second day of The Championships was conducted before a during the year and I look forward to working with you during the record crowd at Royal Randwick which was privileged to witness upcoming year for the further development of the New South Wales the final run of champion race mare Winx. Thoroughbred Racing Industry. The successful Provincial and Country Championships series I would also like to thank your predecessor, the Hon. Paul Toole, were again held during The Championships and played an important MP for his valued assistance during his tenure as Minister for Racing. role in the success of the overall event. The Everest retained the mantle of Australia’s richest race and Yours Sincerely the world’s richest race on turf and was held for a second year with prizemoney of $13 million on offer for the successful participants. The event was again an outstanding success and its reputation and appeal continues to grow, not only in Australia, but among all Russell Balding AO the major racing jurisdictions throughout the world.