Did you see racing made the front pages in news this week?
Handy, when 700 international and local high-powered delegates from 30 countries are in Melbourne for the 39th Asian Racing Conference.
So, what was the story it was telling? A star of the sport, human or equine, doing something rare and unique to deserve such prominence?
Alas not. "Racing Plot To Kill NSW – exclusive – how jealous rivals conspired to bring down V'landys" screamed Sydney's Daily Telegraph's front page.
"Racing plot to turf NSW" was the Melbourne's Herald Sun headline, the story splashed on page nine.
And so, in well leaked information, the dirty laundry of those in charge of running the Australian racing industry, envied for its robust prizemoney levels, bonuses and general rude health on a global scale, on the eve of a significant global gathering, was aired.
Of course, it relates to the legal action in the NSW Supreme Court, conveniently listed to start on the same day as the ARC does, with Racing NSW challenging the five other principal racing authorities that constitute the lame duck body that carries the title Racing Australia, without a chairman, and with little to do but turn the lights on and off each day and a new CEO Paul Eriksson almost channeling George Costanza and his Penske file.
The usual roleplays were trotted out. V'landys merely implying: "We're seeking documents because we're concerned about anti-competitive behaviour" he said about an alleged breakaway body being formed by the other state authorities.
But the story said "shock and awe" tactics!
Racing Victoria cut and pasted its usual "because the matter is before the courts we will not make any comments" before a spirited down the track defence from chairman Brian Kruger and CEO Andrew Jones was forcibly hit back over the bowler's head.
Jones calling the motives nothing more than a "fishing expedition" and that Australian racing was the loser out of such actions, Kruger pointing out it was not only a "bad look” for Australian racing but a waste of industry time and money.
If there is a positive it may bring the festering problem of a national body to a head with Racing Australia dead in the water under its current structure and intransient veto powers that RV has indicated it would relinquish, not so RNSW.
And all this against the background of punters more concerned whether Jacquinot should have gotten the Orr on protest (he should have and rightly did), against the other narrative that such a decision meant an extra $10,000 (that's Mick Price speak) per service fee for Widden and their investors in a bulging Australian bloodstock economy.
Or seeing Godolphin's stars In Secret and Anamoe back into the approaching autumn in devasting form while their juveniles dominated the Blue Diamond run-ins at a heaving family fun day Sandown while a Blue Army of reinforcements wait at home.
But set against the branding of the ARC and its theme "Breaking Barriers", now is perhaps never more timely for Australian racing to seeking a seat at a federal table as its social licence is under significant scrutiny from equine welfare, problem gambling and expected changes to advertising laws that may impact industry funding, along with dealing with other such matters as participants mental health issues, working conditions and so much more.
All while the possible fallout out from endless mortgage rate rises has on the discerning consumer spend that boomed during COVID but is now impacting syndication of horses from trainers propped up with endless credit from the big selling houses across the yearling sales season.
ARC chair, the widely respected Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, says in his welcome: "We will highlight the fundamental role, needs and expectations of today's owners, delve into the importance of the welfare for both our equine and human athletes, and explore ways in which racing and other sports can combat climate change and threats to sustainability, to ensure the future of our industry."
"In addition, we will examine the impact of technological disruptors and their role in engaging new fans including Gen Z, analyse the long-reaching effects that the key racing and wagering developments in ARF member countries and regions could have on the future of racing in the region and globally, discuss the latest approaches to protecting the integrity of racing and assess the changing needs and expectations of the workforce of tomorrow."
All very relevant and no doubt the individual seminars across the three days will explore and delve into matters of such importance, but it will be left to "who" to introduce outcomes and changes that meet the challenges and significant answers to such questions.
Certainly not RA and such are matters of national importance for an industry that they should be dealt with collectively at a national level not the fragmented current state set-up.
It was John Messara on his resignation from RA as chairman who said: "I joined the Board as its first ever Independent Chairman with the intention of reconciling differences.
"I am now stepping aside to allow the Board to vote in a new Chair, who I hope will have more success than I have had."
You'd think the industry is on the nose. It's not.
Whilst it must meet the social licence challenges, or some might say cater to a minority you can never convince, it's safety net is in fine shape.
Look at the AUSHORSE messaging. It's a long impressively marketed list. Like one in every 57 horses that raced in Australia last season earned over $500,000.
A race worth $1m is run every four days in 2023 with prizemoney across the board up 92 per cent in the past decade to an average of $46,000 per the quantum number of races run, embarrassing to France, Ireland and the UK, which have become feeding grounds for our field sizes.
My understanding is that behind the scenes there is lobbying at a Federal Government level as to finally establishing a federal body, perhaps under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, giving it a truly national approach and such an imprimatur outside of the current impasse.
Not to be based in say Sydney or Melbourne but in Canberra, befitting its federal status and representing the truth breadth and scope of the racing industry.
Perhaps there has never been a better time.
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