ANNUAL REPORT 2018 VISION Provide a committed, user-friendly, professional and cost-effective administration which uses best business practice in serving all aspects of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry. Provide Leadership and Strategic Direction to ensure the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry achieves revenue growth, profitability and greater returns to Owners and Industry Participants. Provide a Racing Product that appeals to all demographics, and takes all actions necessary to guarantee integrity and confidence in the sport. Maximise betting turnover on NSW Thoroughbred race meetings by accommodating punters’ needs and desires, and work with Tabcorp to promote new wagering products that reflect changes in demand. MISSION STATEMENT To establish a dynamic NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry which advances participation, ensures integrity and delivers quality racing at all levels. CONTENTS Chairman’s Report 2 Industry Welfare 36 Chief Executive’s Report 3 RICG 37 Industry 11 Appeals 38 Regulatory 15 Insurance 40 Integrity 23 IT 43 Veterinary Services 26 Laboratory 28 Obituaries 44 Marketing & PR 30 Group & Listed Winners 45 BOBS 34 Financial Statements 50 Front cover: Sydney’s champions for the 2017/18 racing season – Winx, Rachel King, Brenton Avdulla and Chris Waller CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1 R Balding AO (Russell) A G Hodgson AM (Tony) P N V’landys AM (Peter) The Hon K P Greene (Kevin) CHAIRMAN DEPUTY CHAIRMAN RACING NSW CHIEF EXECUTIVE Re-appointed Re-appointed Re-appointed Appointed 23 February 2004 Re-appointed 19 December 2017 19 December 2015 19 December 2016 Attended 11 meetings Attended 11 meetings Attended 11 meetings Attended 11 meetings Mrs S Cooke (Saranne) S Tuxen (Simon) A Shepherd AO (Anthony) The Hon G Souris AM Appointed 19 December 2015 Appointed 3 November 2016 Appointed 1 January 2017 (George) Attended 11 meetings Attended 11 meetings Attended 11 meetings Appointed 19 December 2017 MISSION STATEMENT Attended 5 meetings PAST MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Ms C Molyneux-Richards (Carole) Appointed 19 December 2014 Attended 5 meetings FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD Under section 13(1) of the Thoroughbred Racing Act (NSW) welfare of the horse racing industry in the State and the 1996, the Board has the following functions: protection of the public interest as it relates to the horse a) all the functions of the principal club for New South Wales racing industry, and committee of the principal club for New South Wales d) functions with respect to the insuring of participants in the under the Australian Rules of Racing, horse racing industry, being functions of the kind exercised b) to control, supervise and regulate horse racing in the by the AJC on the commencement of this section, and State, such other functions with respect to insurance in the horse b1) such functions in relation to the business, economic racing industry as may be prescribed by the regulations, development and strategic development of the horse e) such functions as may be conferred or imposed on Racing racing industry in the State as are conferred or imposed by NSW by or under the Australian Rules of Racing or any this Act, other Act, c) to initiate, develop and implement policies considered f) such functions with respect to horse racing in New South conducive to the promotion, strategic development and Wales as may be prescribed by the regulations. Annual Report 2018 2 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Hon Paul Toole, MP racing participants, racegoers and the media Minister for Lands and Forestry, Russell Balding AO and the public has been phenomenal. and Minister for Racing Chairman Therefore, in view of the success of Parliament House, Macquarie Street the inaugural event, the Board approved Sydney, NSW 2000 prizemoney for the race being increased to $13 million for 2018 then increasing by $1 million per year until it reaches $15 million. Dear Minister In addition, the Board is committed to seeing The Everest reclassified to Group 1 status and will continue n accordance with Section 30 of the Thoroughbred Racing pursuing that goal during the 2018/19 year. Act 1996, I am pleased to submit to you the 22nd Annual During the year, Racing NSW also announced the conduct IReport of Racing NSW (formerly the NSW Thoroughbred of The Kosciuszko, a new race designed specifically for NSW Racing Board) covering the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. country-trained horses with prizemoney of $1.3 million. This race, Board meetings were held on 11 occasions throughout this which will be conducted at Royal Randwick Racecourse on the period and I again acknowledge the contributions and support of same day as The Everest will also be open to slot holders. my fellow Board Members. The race is being conducted in conjunction with Tabcorp and The Board is comprised of Members with an excellent mix of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and an art union is being financial, commercial and industry experience and has worked conducted with slots in the event allocated to the winning ticket effectively in the interests of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing holders who will then be able to enter into arrangements with Industry which supports some 21,232 full-time equivalent owners and trainers to acquire a starter in the race. Like The positions and contributes $2.6 billion to the NSW economy (IER Everest this is a totally new concept for Australian racing. Report 2014). The year also saw the fifth running of The Championships At all times, the Board has looked to develop strategies and which were again conducted successfully and have earned their policies designed to improve the financial well-being of the many place as the grand final of Australian Thoroughbred Racing. thousands of persons who participate in the industry in New As in previous years, the Provincial and Country South Wales and I am delighted that returns to owners increased Championships series played an important role in the success of by 11.46% during the year to $253.8 million. This takes the return the overall event. to owners to 48.4% of their total costs. In accordance with its commitment to initiate and maintain The additional revenue generated following the enactment a strong focus on equine welfare, the Board approved the of legislation by your Government to grant tax parity with the purchase of a 2,600-acre property at Capertee for the Victorian Racing Industry continues to flow to the industry. rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming of Thoroughbreds. This additional revenue has allowed the introduction of major Throughout the year significant improvements have been prizemoney increases which have in turn reinvigorated NSW made to ensure that this property continues to remain a first- racing, particularly in the Provincial and Country regions of the class facility. State. In accordance with its obligations under the Thoroughbred Apart from the significant increases in prizemoney and Racing Act 1996, Racing NSW also commenced the development other returns to owners, Racing NSW continues to place strong of a new Strategic Plan and has consulted extensively with race emphasis on programs designed to protect the integrity of the clubs and participant groups in developing the Plan. industry. It is anticipated that the Plan will be available for distribution Racing NSW also extends its thanks to the NSW Government during the first six months of the new financial year. following the announcement that legislation is to be enacted in On behalf of the Board I thank and acknowledge the Chief the later part of 2018 to introduce a Point of Consumption Tax in Executive, Peter V’landys AM and the staff of Racing NSW for New South Wales and that part of the proceeds from the tax will their dedication and support. be shared with the NSW Racing Industry. Peter is possessed with exceptional drive and energy and he Without doubt the major highlight of the year was the and his team continue to provide outstanding service to the NSW inaugural running of The Everest at Royal Randwick on 14 Thoroughbred Racing Industry and must be congratulated on October 2017, with entry being eligible to persons or syndicates their achievements during the year. who purchased slots entitling them to participate. Finally, I would like to thank you and your personal staff, as well The race, with initial prizemoney of $10 million, was held over as your Departmental Officers for your assistance and support 1200 metres making it the richest race in Australia and the during the year and I look forward to working with you during the richest 1200 metres race in the world. It also became the equal upcoming year for the further development of the New South highest rating 1200 metre race in the world and the richest race Wales Thoroughbred Racing Industry. in the world conducted on turf. The Everest has quickly established itself as one of Australia’s Yours Sincerely major events and the instant acceptance of the concept by Russell Balding AO Annual Report 2018 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT 3 Peter V’landys AM Chief Executive Highlights financial year (up from $6.2 million in 2017), in addition to paying $27 million more in increased The 2017/18 year was again an extremely successful prizemoney. year for the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry with The most pleasing aspect this year is that Racing several new initiatives implemented or announced NSW has set aside an additional $20 million to fund for future years. Also, additional benefits from Capital Expenditure at NSW Thoroughbred Race previous initiatives such as parity flowed through to Clubs. This Capital Expenditure Fund will provide for the industry. These include: the continuing upgrade and maintenance of NSW ●● Returns to owners during the year totaling $253.8 thoroughbred racecourses, training and customer million (an overall increase of 11.46% from the facilities, which will be detailed in Racing NSW’s 2018 previous year).