Cranny

By Bridget Brady
THE Cranbourne racing industry could inject between $200 million and $300 million annually into the local economy, after Cranbourne came up trumps in Racing Victoria’s Racing To 2020 blueprint.
Racing Victoria’s vision for the future of thoroughbred racing, released late last year, included an increase from 22 to 60 race meetings a year at Cranbourne, and the possible introduction of night racing and a synthetic track.
But the plans would depend on whether a synthetic track gets the go-ahead.
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge said he was very excited about the future prospects of thoroughbred racing at Cranbourne.
“From an economic point of view it’s fantastic news. Currently the racing industry injects about $100 million into the local economy. This could grow to two or three (hundred) million,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“It will provide a lot more job opportunities in the local area. Clearly we’ve got a winner opportunity in the next four or five years to set Cranbourne up for the next 100 years.”
Cranbourne fared well compared to some training centres, including Pakenham, which may lose more than half its race meetings and its entire training population.
The trainers could be relocated to Cranbourne.
Plans to relocate racing from the current track to the nearby training centre on a new synthetic track would provide a great flexibility for trainers, Mr Bainbridge said.
“It would be a great surety in the wetter months. It would guarantee racing in the area for the meetings and provide trainers with another quality surface.”
However, Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) chief executive Rob Hines conceded plans for an all-weather track were on hold pending an investigation on horse welfare issues on synthetic tracks, which stemmed from a high fatality rate among runners on the new Geelong track. A decision on whether to go ahead with the synthetic track will be made early this year.
Mr Bainbridge said the introduction of night racing on a synthetic track could see the thoroughbred industry become the largest industry in Casey, and allow Cranbourne to tap into the lucrative Asian betting market.
“We have been strongly pushing for night racing. With Cranbourne so close to Melbourne, regular Saturday night racing would be a great form of entertainment and be quite exciting.
“It would be great exposure for Cranbourne and Casey.”
Mr Bainbridge said the blueprint was the industry’s plan for the future, and nothing was locked in stone.
“But from our club’s point of view we are quite excited about what the future holds in store.”