THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: RACING NSW v RACING VICTORIA. WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE?

By Graham Potter | Friday, June 14, 2019

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

“A silly little man making silly decisions.”

Amanda Elliott, Chair of Racing Victoria, must regret saying those words. She has already apologised to Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys, the target of her sniping, but the undertone remains as the racing rivalry between the two states seems to get more intense with each passing day.

V’landys is taking Racing NSW on the ride of its life. Regular prize-money increases, the unveiling of new, heavily promoted races, ambitious plans for a world class training centre … its all systems go with Racing NSW.

All of that sould be roundly applauded, even by those who are left envious by NSW’s upward trajectory, as it makes good business sense to keep improving your product … but Racing Victoria is not cheering.

That is because V’landys’ expansion plans are now starting to seriously encroach on the Melbourne Spring Carnival which NSW’s southern neighbour sees as a deliberate and reckless challenge to that Carnival … a challenge which they believe is not in the best interests of the national racing model.

That argument has some merit as does NSW’s claim to their right to do whatever they can to improve their product.

To some degree at least, this is a case of the old world meeting the new world … an inevitable occurrence in any walk of life … with the point being that whether that meeting ultimately turns into a greeting or a collision will decide how the dust settles on this particular argument.

Just how this is resolved … if it can be resolved … for the betterment of all in racing is no easy call but it’s got to come down to more than a clash of wills.

Elliott’s remark about V’landys shows the establishment is getting nervous yet there is absolutely nothing wrong with the fact they have been given a nudge to focus on the changing landscape … while NSW is in full stride and flying and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the fact that they have the means and motivation to strive to be better.

For those, like Racing Queensland, sitting in the grandstand watching this clash between the number one and number two seeds, it does make enthralling viewing.

And so it should. There is a lot at stake!