Media Releases

The Echuca Racing Club will benefit from a $100,000 joint investment to upgrade the club’s sand training track as announced by local National’s Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

Mr Weller said the sand training track at the Echuca Race course will be replaced and drainage upgraded to prevent further flood damage from excessive rainfall in the future. 

“Due to high rainfall over the past two years the sand training track at the Echuca Racing course had become damaged, worn and not up to the standard required for adequate training,” Mr Weller said.

Mr Weller asked the Minister for Racing Dr Denis Napthine to support a funding application from the Echuca Racing Club in the Victorian Parliament stating that the Club plays an important social and economic role in the local community. 

“The Racing Club not only hosts up to 12 race meetings each year including major meets on Melbourne Cup Day and on the March Long Weekend -  attracting thousands - but also provides a training base for local trainers who live and work in the area,” Mr Weller said.

“Between 40 and 50 horses are trained at the racecourse daily, therefore it is important they have reliable and effective facilities to ensure the safety of all horses, track riders and local trainers, he said. 

Echuca Racing Club CEO, Garry Armstrong has welcomed the announcement stating the club was thrilled to receive the news that its primary sand training track would be upgraded.

“This upgrade will give local horse trainers a fantastic, modern facility to prepare their horses,” Mr Armstrong said.

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government is providing $50,000 from its Victorian Racing Industry Fund to fund the upgrade with Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria jointly meeting the balance of the $100,000 project.

“The Coalition Government is a strong supporter of country racing and the racing industry which is worth $729 million to the State’s rural and regional economy and employs 27,000 country Victorians,” Mr Weller said.

In addition to the major works, Mr Weller said to the Echuca Racing Club management has plans to ensure old sand from the upgrade would be recycled and used to top-up the jog track at the course.

“These works will ensure a safe training facility for all who use the facility and allow the Echuca Racing Club to continue to play a major social and economic role in the community” he said.

Mr Armstrong anticipated the work on the racing track, to begin in the second week of May and to be completed in two weeks.

The Victorian Coalition Government will partner with Country Racing Victoria, Camp Australia, and 30 regional racing clubs to deliver the Kids Summer of Country Racing Campaign.

 

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the campaign is a terrific way for the whole family to enjoy the fun of country races during the summer holiday period.

 

“I am very pleased that the campaign includes Echuca Racing Club Family Day Out on 29 December 2011 and the Gunbower Cup on 7 January 2012,” Mr Weller said.

 

The program will offer families affordable, fun and safe entertainment for the children while enjoying a family day out at the

 races.

 

Activities will include face painting, badge making, sand wizards, tug of war, crazy cricket, giant earth ball, obstacle courses, jumping castles, mini golf and rock wall climbing.

 

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government supports the traditions of country racing  and understands the value it adds to our communities.

 

He said that country race clubs play an important role in the community and the local committees have worked hard to create an atmosphere specifically aimed at families and children.

 

“I encourage everyone to get along to one of these local race days and take advantage of a fantastic family day out,” Mr Weller said.   

 

Harness racing will return to Gunbower in 2012 with the Victorian Coalition Government committing $137,950 in funding to upgrade the track to a safe racing standard and improve facilities for patrons.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the return of the Gunbower Cup was a fantastic outcome for the community and the decision represented a new approach to racing in regional Victoria.

“Gunbower was one of six clubs forced to give up its race meetings by the former Labor Government,” Mr Weller said.

“This decision was a massive blow for the community and hurt local owners, trainers and breeders who no longer had a local base to work from.

“The Coalition Government understands the value of racing to country areas in terms of the jobs
it generates and the value it adds to our communities.

“I am so pleased to have been able to work with the Minister for Racing Denis Napthine, the Gunbower Harness Racing Club and Harness Racing Victoria to help implement this key initiative.”

Dr Napthine said the Coalition Government funding would weather-proof the track in order to help keep the races going through wet weather.

He said the funding would also improve racing surfaces to protect the welfare of animals and drivers, making race events safer for those on the track.

“The money will also allow for new track and crowd fencing, realignment of the tracks and new cabling and broadcast infrastructure so races can be televised.

“New tote facilities, paving, lighting towers and a judges towers will also be installed.

“Analysis by Harness Racing Victoria over the past few months has identified a range of improvements needed to bring these tracks back up to the high standards expected in the industry.

“The needs of individual tracks vary but we are committed to undertaking the necessary upgrades to make good on our promise to return harness racing to these clubs.

“The Coalition Government has provided $678,000 through the VRIF to return harness racing to
these six clubs and it is fantastic to see this fund have such a positive impact for grass-roots clubs and country racing.”

Harness racing will return to the iconic Gunbower track if a Coalition government is elected next Saturday, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller said that Gunbower was one of six regional harness racing tracks which had their race meetings taken away from them by the Labor Government in 2005.

 

“The loss of these meetings cost jobs, damaged local economies and forced many owners, trainers, breeders and harness racing enthusiasts out of the industry.

 

“We now have the ridiculous situation where other tracks are hosting these club’s races. It is just not working and is doing great damage to the sport at a grass roots level,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said that Coalition Government would return racing to the Gunbower, St Arnaud, Wedderburn, Boort, Ouyen and Wangaratta.

 

“These clubs and communities were devastated when their meetings were stolen from them, but the Government simply steam-rolled the clubs, and they were left with no option.

 

“It was typical of the way this government has treated the racing industry as a whole. It made an arbitrary and arrogant decision which has had dire consequences for the sport.

 

“We are going to turn that around and return harness racing to people who made the sport what it is,” Mr Weller said.