Trainer David Eustace says Racing Victoria would be better with less racing not more

English trainer David Eustace says Racing Victoria should not follow the British initiative of running more races for less prizemoney to address revenue shortages.

Trainer David Eustace says extra races in Victoria is not necessarily good. Picture: Vince Caligiuri–Getty Images

David Eustace has urged Racing Victoria not to go down the British path to address the industry’s funding shortfall.

Racing Victoria announced the introduction of a 10th race at more than 40 Saturday city race meetings next year as part of a plan to claw back lost wagering revenue.

Eustace’s fellow leading trainer Wayne Hawkes cautiously backed the idea but the British expat, who trains in partnership with Ciaron Maher, said more racing was not necessarily the way to go.

Eustace noted British racing had tried to generate extra revenue through running more races with smaller prizemoney pots, which had not succeeded.

He said less racing might improve the Victorian racing product.

“I don’t think it’s a great idea but I don’t really recall being asked for our opinion on it either,” Eustace said.

“I might have missed that one, I don’t know, but I don’t remember anyone asking us what we thought.

“I think the usual arguments will arise regarding race days and fatigue and how much racing there is.

“I often base things on British racing and one thing I know is what completely ruined British racing was having more racing for less prizemoney.

“That seems to be what we’re doing.

“I think we should be concentrating on condensing the product rather than necessarily expanding it.

Racing Victoria announced the 10th Melbourne Saturday race was a 12-month trial to determine whether it produced any uplift in betting revenue.

Eustace said the length of the trial indicated the initial 12-month test was almost certain to become permanent.

Melbourne racing will feature a 10th Saturday event from August 1. Picture: Getty Images.

“I understand the notion of why we’re doing it but I’m not sure a 12-month trial is a good idea,” Eustace said.

“Doing it for 12 months means it’s happening.

“If it’s happening, just say it’s happening and if it’s a trial, just make it three months.”

Eustace added the prizemoney issues in Victoria and the ever-increasing stakes available in NSW were part of the reason for he and Maher’s continuing expansion into the northern state.

The stable recently completed the acquisition of a property at Bong Bong, near Bowral in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

Eustace said the new property would help the burgeoning operation to prepare equal numbers of horses in both states.

“There’s prizemoney to be had in New South Wales and the more horses we can have there, the better,” Eustace said.

“We’re a long way off where we want to be up there compared to where we are in Victoria.

“Eventually we’d like the ratio to be 50-50 and not necessarily have a stable that dominates one or the other.

“Bong Bong complements what we have done here (in Victoria).

“Now we’ve got a beach facility, a track facility and a country and educational facility in Bong Bong, which hopefully complements them all.”

Originally published as Trainer David Eustace says Racing Victoria would be better with less racing not more