Sydney Turf Club

At a special media launch held at Star City today, key stakeholders in the tourism and racing industries united for the first time in New South Wales’ history to unveil a campaign promoting fifty days of Autumn racing across Australia’s premier state.

The event, attended by key racing and tourism representatives, top Sydney trainers, jockeys, fashion representatives and media, paves the way forward for New South Wales racing following the equine influenza outbreak which brought the industry to its knees on 24 August last year.

The launch of the campaign highlights the value of thoroughbred racing in the state.  In a study commissioned by the Australian Racing Board last year, it is estimated that the economic value of racing in New South Wales alone is nearly $1.7 billion with more than 16,000 full time equivalent jobs.

‘Everyone has to work together,’ says top jockey, Shane Dye.  ‘Racing is a great product.’

The culmination of key stakeholders:  Australian Jockey Club, Inglis, Racing NSW, Sydney Turf Club, Tabcorp and the NSW government; aims to promote fifty glorious days of racing across 120 racedays in both regional and metropolitan areas.

Events NSW Chief Executive Officer, Mr Geoff Parmenter, announced at the launch a $750,000 commitment to the Autumn Racing Carnival campaign.

Racing’s first lady, Gai Waterhouse commented, ‘I think the funding is great; it’s exactly what we need.  New South Wales racing is next to none.  It’s a great way of advertising New South Wales and bringing people to our state.’

Through an ‘umbrella’ approach, the Autumn Racing Carnival aims to increase awareness of racing in New South Wales, increase tourist numbers and generate additional revenue for the state across a number of industries such as fashion, tourism, hospitality and entertainment.

In all, the Carnival covers race meetings from Lightning Ridge to Albury, Lismore to Cobar as well as the metropolitan tracks:  Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens and Canterbury Park.

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