INTERNATIONAL HORSE CENTRE AT WERRIBEE RACECOURSE

Friday, 21 August 2009 
Werribee will receive a $1.4 million racing funding boost to establish an international horse centre under a Brumby Labor Government and racing industry funding partnership, Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Rob Hulls announced today.

Mr Hulls said the new international horse centre to be built at Werribee Racecourse was one of a range of projects being developed across the state under the $86 million Regional Racing Infrastructure Fund (RRIF).

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to promote Victoria’s racing industry,” Mr Hulls said.

He said the project included the construction of three stabling compounds which would become the new base for visiting international horses competing in the Spring Racing Carnival and other feature racing events.

“The new compounds will fulfil the necessary requirements of the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service and replace the facility that has been housed at Sandown Racecourse since the mid 1990s,” Mr Hulls said.

“Initially the new facility will be able to accommodate up to 28 horses and in the future it will be able to house up to 42 horses, compared to Sandown’s capacity for 22.”

Some of the key features of the International Horse Centre include:

•    Single controlled access point;
•    Monitoring by continuous closed circuit television (CCTV);
•    Exercise walking circuits, sand rolls and day yards;
•    Truck washing bay;
•    Horse washing bay supplied with filtered water from rainwater tanks;
•    Isolation box; and
•    Media viewing platform.

The Government is contributing $1.12 million for the Werribee International Horse Centre project through RRIF with Racing Victoria Limited and Country Racing Victoria providing the remaining funds.

Mr Hulls was joined by local Labor MPs, Roads Minister and Member for Tarneit Tim Pallas and Lara MP John Eren, to turn the first sod of the new centre.

“Tomorrow sees the arrival of the first international horse competing in this year’s Spring Racing Carnival, Singapore-trained Jolie’s Shinju,” Mr Hulls said.

“While this year’s international horses will be housed at the Sandown Quarantine Centre, next year all arrivals will be accommodated at this new state-of-the-art international horse centre.

“These larger facilities will assist with the racing industry’s commitment to the globalisation of the Spring Racing Carnival, and will also accommodate our local champion horses in the course of them travelling to compete in major overseas races.”

Mr Pallas said the Werribee Racing Club had been an important part of the community since holding its first race meeting in 1862.

“After a two year hiatus, I am delighted that Racing Victoria has announced racing will return next year,” Mr Pallas said. “The resumption of racing and the benefits to the local economy and the community cannot be underestimated.”

Mr Eren said shop owners, hospitality workers and tradespeople would all benefit from the new construction project and the return of racing to the historic racetrack.

Mr Hulls said the project was a fine example of what the racing industry and the Government could achieve when working in partnership to support Victorian racing.

The Brumby Labor Government has committed $45 million to support major infrastructure and capital improvements at regional and rural racing and training venues, with the Victorian racing industry contributing $41 million. The fund represents the biggest State Government investment in rural and regional racing venues in Victoria’s history.

Racing Victoria Limited Chief Executive Officer Rob Hines said a state-of-the-art quarantine facility was integral to the Spring Racing Carnival to encourage international participation and sustain Victoria’s reputation for world-class thoroughbred racing.

“The funding decision is a fantastic result for Werribee and is one of many vital projects that were identified in the Victorian Racecourse and Training Facilities Plan recently released by Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria,” Mr Hines said.