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CARRICK Park is a classic example of a small race club beating the odds to survive – and thrive – in an era of funding cutbacks and rationalisation of venues.
The popular country track has only three race meetings a year these days and, to be honest, some of the dates it has been given in recent times have been less than attractive.
But, with a little help from its friends, the Carrick Park Pacing Club is still going strong and ready for another season, starting on Friday.
Friday meetings don’t do a lot for the club’s finances – it had two last season – but it still managed to record an operating profit of $11,000, thanks mainly to its successful Carrick Cup meeting which is held on a Saturday.
And, it had enough money in reserve to fund a complete renovation of its public bar.
‘‘It has a glass frontage now and looks terrific,’’ secretary Sandra Rybarczyk said.
‘‘We funded the work ourselves and, all up, it will have cost almost $40,000 which is not a bad effort for a little club.’’
Carrick has managed to rid itself of one of its more difficult race dates this season, with the co-operation of the Launceston Pacing Club.
‘‘We were allocated a meeting at the end of March but we asked the LPC if we could swap for something else,’’ Mrs Rybarczyk said.
‘‘They agreed to give us Sunday, December 27, which will have Sky Channel coverage and be more suitable for us.
‘‘We rely heavily on volunteers to run our meetings and those that have jobs find it hard to get there on Fridays.
‘‘Now, we have only one Friday meeting (this week) plus the Sunday after Christmas and our cup meeting on Saturday, January 30.’’
Carrick always races in the twilight timeslot and has something that few other harness meetings can boast – on-course bookmakers.
Trevor Davenport and Steve Walters will field this week, with regular Robin Wilson back for the remaining two meetings.
Have a say
TASRACING last week launched an industry consultation paper entitled ‘‘2020 And
Beyond’’ and participants are now being asked to add their views.
Chief executive Eliot Forbes said Tasracing would be implementing a new five-year strategic plan next year and it was vital participants had their say on its content.
“Following the stakes reset earlier this year, it is important that we move quickly to identify and implement strategies that will build industry confidence,” he said.
‘‘Tasracing will also need to address infrastructure issues following a period of limiting non-essential projects for cash flow purposes.”
Dr Forbes said the consultation paper outlined key trends and suggested some possible strategies.
“We are encouraging industry participants to provide a written response for each strategy, including general comments and answers to specific questions,” he said.
“It is true that the racing industry locally and nationally is facing many challenges, but at the same time there are exciting opportunities available to us because of our increasingly connected digital world.”
Written submissions are invited from all interested stakeholders and will be accepted until January 6.
The Tasracing Corporate Plan 2017-2021 will be released next July.
Catalogue out
THE catalogue for the 2016 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale is now online and comprises 126 lots to be offered at Launceston’s Inveresk Showgrounds on Thursday, February 18.
Graduates of past sales have been flying the Tasmanian flag around the country in the past 12 months, headed by The Cleaner, Banca Mo, Kenjorwood, Palentino, Like a Carousel and Valiant Warrior.
The 2016 catalogue includes relations to stakes-winners Banca Mo, Braequest, Brakim Lass, Cailin Miss, Grand Tycoon, Jadescent, Lake Sententia, Packing OK, Palentino and Triple Asset.
It also includes 21 lots that are out of black type-performed mares, including stakes winners Abbadena, Coupe, Gehenna, Star Hit and Wavishing.
The sale will include 22 first crop yearlings by Encosta de Lago’s group-winning son Needs Further from Armidale Stud.
Armidale has 27 yearlings catalogued, as does Grenville Stud which bred this year’s Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan.