What caused the divide between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria

The deep divide between the racing authorities of NSW and Victoria began six years ago, when the world’s richest turf race was born.

THE great divide between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria had its genesis with the introduction of the world’s richest turf race, The TAB Everest, at Royal Randwick six years ago.

The Everest, which now boasts prize money of $15 million, clashes with the traditional Melbourne spring carnival program and is usually on the same day as the Caulfield Cup in mid-October.

Despite criticism from south of the border, The Everest has been a resounding success attracting huge crowds and betting turnover, with the race regularly rating in the top two or three held in Australia each season.

But Racing Victoria used its power of veto to block Racing NSW’s push to give The Everest Group 1 status, deepening the divide between the two states.

The Everest Group 1 snub has been compounded with the Pattern Committee, the racing body which determines which races are afforded Group and Listed status, not meeting for neary two years due to the impasse between NSW and Victorian racing industries.

Horses and jockeys make their way onto the track for race 6 the Fujitsu General Sydney Stakes during Everest Day. Picture: Jenny Evans

On the back of The Everest’s success, Racing NSW realized the months of October and November was fertile ground and expanded the Sydney spring carnival further, introducing a number of new feature races including $10 million The Golden Eagle.

The Melbourne spring carnival had always dominated the racing and wagering landscape during October and early November but the increased competition from Sydney’s carnival changes upset the status quo.

Tthe crowd during Everest Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse. Picture: Mark Evans

V’landys revealed in Racing NSW’s 2022 Annual report that the revitalizing and expansion of Sydney’s spring carnival continues to be “incredibly successful.”

“The Everest and The Golden Eagle are the two most wagered upon NSW races, by some margin,’’ he wrote.

Remarkably, the “Get Out Stakes” on Everest Day, a benchmark race to close out the meeting, sits at number 11 on the most-wagered NSW races and ahead of high profiel Group 1 races like the Sydney Cup, ATC Australian Derby and TJ Smith Stakes.

Racing NSW has bolstered the Sydney spring race program adding a new $2 million race, The Big Dance, to the Randwick meeting on Melbourne Cup Day, and the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill to close out the Sydney spring.

Peter V'landys AM pictured at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club for the barrier draw of the 2021 Everest. Picture: Richard Dobson

But the big money races continue with the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle and $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange run as stand-alone Saturday meetings in November before the Group 2 $2 million The Ingham (formerly Villiers Stakes) is held at Randwick in December.

The new-look Sydney spring carnival has Melbourne race clubs rethinking their traditional spring carnival program with the big winners are racing industry participants and punters.