South East racing clubs first to feel squeeze by TRSA cuts in infrastructure spending

Horse racing in the state’s South East will be the first to feel the impact of last year’s decision by Thoroughbred Racing SA to cut infrastructure funding to South Australian country race clubs.

Sue Murphy (left), Sue Jaensch (centre) Bruce Jaensch (Right) at the Naracoorte Racing Club. Picture: The Chapel Studio

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Racing in the South-East will be the first to feel the impact of last year’s decision to slash infrastructure funding to South Australian country race clubs.

Thoroughbred Racing SA was forced to cut $2.25 million from budgeted spending after the State Government withdrew $3 million in prizemoney in December.

This has resulted in major irrigation projects at both Naracoorte and Penola Racing Clubs being put on hold indefinitely.

It’s a significant blow for the South-East community, because the work was set to be undertaken by local businesses.

Naracoorte Racing Club president Bruce Jaensch hoped the projects would be back on the agenda in 2020.

“It’s made it hard, at the moment we need someone there moving the current watering system constantly,’’ said Mr Jaensch, who is married to top local trainer Sue Jaensch.

“What we were looking at getting would have been a lot easier, we could have managed things basically with a mobile phone.

“At this stage it’s only postponed for 12 months, but getting the locals contractors back in a year might not be that simple if they have already undertaken other contracts.”

Mr Jaensch said it was vital to maintain the facilities because country clubs a huge component of the SA racing industry.

“It would have been a huge asset for local trainers and most importantly, the racing club, come race day,’’ he said.

“It would have been a much better racing surface, which would in turn attract more trainers to come here from the city and from interstate.”

The plight of the South Australian racing industry has sparked a national outcry.

High taxes and the loss of funding has forced key trainers to relocate interstate and some bookies to change their odds on local races.

Ms Jaensch said the timing was disappointing. Her stable had been enjoying the best run of her career.

“Having that new irrigation system would be a huge asset to the club and the trainers around here; it would make the whole situation and life a lot easier for all of us,’’ she said.

Ms Jaensch is currently eighth on the SA Trainer’s Premiership but, like many in SA racing, she said things needed to improve quickly.

“We’re lucky because of where we are, we have Victoria if the horses are good enough,’’ she said. “There is a Bendigo meeting coming up, its four hours to Adelaide and four and a quarter hours to Bendigo and you’re racing for three times the prizemoney.

“You do feel sorry for Adelaide trainers as there is nowhere else to go.”