Media Release: Golden Mile Trotting Club
29 March, 2018
Harness
Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) has announced it will not allocate future race meetings to the Kalgoorlie Golden Mile Trotting Club (GMTC) after the end of the 2018 season following a consultative process with the WA harness industry.
Information gathered from business modelling, industry data and participant surveys highlighted the need to review harness racing at the GMTC. As a result of this information, the decision has been made to not allocate future race dates to the GMTC.
RWWA Chief Executive Officer Richard Burt said the decision to no longer allocate race dates to the GMTC was difficult but necessary for the wider harness industry to prosper.
“RWWA has worked collaboratively with the GMTC for many years to help manage race dates in the region, however not allocating race meetings to the club going forward is in the best interests of the industry,” said Mr Burt.
“Harness racing in Kalgoorlie has seen a drop in local participation rates in recent years and, as a result, has struggled to attract horse nominations for race meets from both metropolitan and regional trainers.”
The WA Harness industry has increasingly cited the large distance required to travel to attend the GMTC meets was a major reason for their lack of nominations.
RWWA is confident the harness industries ‘new business model’ involving a revised racing programme, tiered stake money and new handicapping policies will progressively benefit the code delivering sustainable outcomes for the long term.
Listen to Richard Burt discuss this on TABradio’s The Sports Daily below: