Senior Trainers RWWA complaint

DamienWyer · October 2025

My understanding is that close to ten Senior Thoroughbred Trainers have written to the head of RWWA with a shopping list of complaints and one suggestion recently.

The feared reduction in stakes money that is rumoured to be announced after the February yearling was sales is their most worrying sign that the Racing Industry is about to shrink further in new Owners investment in new stock and the ever increasing costs of operating large stables.

They have suggested that one method of addressing this is to stop the current level of support for the Harness code reducing its funding to what it brings in percentage of revenue.

My understanding is that Greyhound Racing is on life support with a current petition of some 150,000 signatures in opposition and some whispers of Cannington slipping into obscurity.

For a code that celebrates 4,000 people turning up at the opening day of the Ascot season as a triumph, these Trainers have a genuine base of complaint.

My belief is that the era of mega owners is nearing an end with each passing funeral and the touted future success of syndicated models is an iceberg waiting to be struck as returns for the small investor is entertainment only and after awhile those folks will drift off into the unknown looking for a good time elsewhere.

RWWA doesn’t seemingly have a plan, at least nobody is aware of it, otherwise these notoriously non commenting people would be deathly silent.

Interesting times ahead in WA.

warrenrobinson · October 2025

DamienWyer said:
My understanding is that close to ten Senior Thoroughbred Trainers have written to the head of RWWA with a shopping list of complaints and one suggestion recently.

The feared reduction in stakes money that is rumoured to be announced after the February yearling was sales is their most worrying sign that the Racing Industry is about to shrink further in new Owners investment in new stock and the ever increasing costs of operating large stables.

They have suggested that one method of addressing this is to stop the current level of support for the Harness code reducing its funding to what it brings in percentage of revenue.

My understanding is that Greyhound Racing is on life support with a current petition of some 150,000 signatures in opposition and some whispers of Cannington slipping into obscurity.

For a code that celebrates 4,000 people turning up at the opening day of the Ascot season as a triumph, these Trainers have a genuine base of complaint.

My belief is that the era of mega owners is nearing an end with each passing funeral and the touted future success of syndicated models is an iceberg waiting to be struck as returns for the small investor is entertainment only and after awhile those folks will drift off into the unknown looking for a good time elsewhere.

RWWA doesn’t seemingly have a plan, at least nobody is aware of it, otherwise these notoriously non commenting people would be deathly silent.

Interesting times ahead in WA.

warrenrobinson · October 2025

Certainly interesting times ahead , the only way forward is for the racing industry to call for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the mismanagement of Racing WA as mentioned in the WACHRA submission re country clubs back in 2022.

JayJay · October 2025

The call by the leading gallops trainers to remove the huge subsidy that harness receives is entirely understandable but in itself is no solution.

It would completely destroy the flailing remnants of the current industry and the remaining few at the industry would be seriously damaged. The breeding industry would disappear entirely and the rush for the exits would become a stampede.

However it would provide just a brief sugar hit for thoroughbred racing without solving the problem, and without resolving management failure. We all know what the 'New business Model' for Harness did for 8 years, none or it produced positive outcomes, the decimation continued unabated.

The problem is that the current management seem to be clueless about how to solve the issues that are beleaguering the code(s). One example of an unaddressed issue is the massive impost of workers compensation for trainers which has been raised but ignored for years.

The recent changes to handicapping, PBD and programming of Harness has seen some green shoots emerge in much bigger field sizes, numbers of odds on favourites, average winning starting prices and some spikes in turnover and it would be madness to revert back to past practices as some are suggesting.

However, the only way to cure a boil is to lance it and there simply must be a gloves off multi party Parliamentary Inquiry into all aspects of RWWA management and operations. As it states in the trainers letter, it is a horrible look when cost cutting and the sale of Tab Radio is occurring along with rumoured stake cuts, to see the executives enjoying themselves in Broome Cup and Kalgoorlie Cup hospitality tents when some trainers start each day with a $5 grand workers comp impost before they have walked down to the boxes to begin work.

SLIPPERGOLDEN · October 2025

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Vincent_vega · October 2025

Im not sure the industry is fully rooted but i dare say getting people to the races is not made easier by charging $16 for a Vodka Selzer at Ascot.

Had a day and people booked to do razzling Railway stakes day event but one look at those drink prices has forced us to pivot and organise a home “pool, punt and bbq day” for the railway. Everyone chips in $50 and there will be enough pi$$ and food to kill yourself.
Its becoming death by 1000 cuts with these race clubs and venues. I get they gotta pay wages but a rip off is a rip off

JayJay · October 2025

Groups with naked ambition and profound vested interests have been poisoning RWWA since it's inception. Self entitlement is an insidious condition, perhaps the worst of all human afflictions. Those that have it all, or most of it, fight like cornered feral cats to retain or increase their advantage and the survival of the industry in good health becomes a secondary concern, if it is a concern at all.

It will be interesting to see in the immediate future, with the RWWA Annual report to be released to Parliament on Wednesday showing some reported serious downturns in wagering numbers (according to that well informed source, the parliamentary grapevine), as to how the powerful respond. Will they nourish the emerging green shoots or ignore the undeniable facts and spray round up far and wide?

Within the Harness code, which is in an extremely precarious state, will their be a girding of the loins to park self interest for the sake of the Industry as a whole, or will it revert to type with a "get what you can whilst you can approach" before the show well and truly implodes? A return to the good old days of half full Free For Alls each week and $1.04 favourites along with concessions for the high ability horses so they can keep beating up their lesser rivals for as long as possible, which the betting public have already rejected? Whatever happens, it will be pretty evident pretty quickly as to whether the Industry has a future moving forward.

The reality of the letter from the Racing Trainers cannot be denied, Harness is seriously subsidised. One positive from their letter is that they have now secured a meeting to discuss some of the previously raised grievances.

shothru · October 2025

All good Big John appearing at Ascot next saturday. Probably be a sell out

meatpie · October 2025

warrenrobinson said:
Certainly interesting times ahead , the only way forward is for the racing industry to call for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the mismanagement of Racing WA as mentioned in the WACHRA submission re country clubs back in 2022.

and what did the last Parliamentary Enquiry headed by John McGrath achieve?

JayJay · October 2025

The Inquiry undertaken under the Chairmanship of John McGrath was one that was mandated in the original legislation that established RWWA in 2003.

There was a statutory requirement to inquire into RWWA after 5 years of operation (or as soon as it could practicably be established).

After the initial great success post 2003, on the back of the mining boom of the day, wagering and revenue collapsed after the GFC, an outbreak of Equine Influenza and the introduction of low tax Interstate Corporate Bookmaking Licenses, primarily operating out of the Northern Territory which effectively short sheeted existing TAB's very badly.

The Inquiry was required to look at

Operations
Governance
Accountability
Code Distribution
Consultation
Taxation
Wagering
Corporate Structure (and any other issues that may arise)

It produced 92 individual "Findings" and 53 "Recommendations", some of which Government acted on and implemented but many which ended up in the too hard basket and simply gathered dust in a draw somewhere.

Any contemporary Parliamentary Public Accounts Inquiry to be instituted in the current era should as a start point, and as a matter of urgency, examine the previous findings and recommendations that never made it past first base.

The 2010 report (nearly 300 pages) is available online. I have read it. It is a torturous exercise but nonetheless revealing. Google "Joint Standing Committee on The Review of Racing and Wagering Acts 2010". I'm wagering that the current Chair and Board, along with many others drawing a stipend down at Hasler drive and elsewhere, would battle to pass muster if questioned on any of its contents, findings or recommendations.

meatpie · October 2025

Got the hard copy

Again the risks, will be nothing more than a talk fest and risk it hijacked by Animal Justice and Greens.

Cant remember the last Parliamentary Enquiry that reached a positive outcome.

JayJay · October 2025

The alternative is to do doing nothing whist the organisation financially implodes, under the likely spin and rubbish that will appear in the annual report, a failed attempt at polishing a turd I suspect.

All the usual "downturn in turnover, cost of living, Gaza and Ukraine War" type excuses that usually cloud these reports will be front and centre whilst management (or mismanagement tries) to exonerate themselves from their decades of failed decisions.

What's the betting that a phrase or two which cites 'cost cutting, future financial prudence and predictions of a return to positive budgets in the near future" gets a run?

warrenrobinson · October 2025

RWA have staff that are unemployable in the outside world.

meatpie · October 2025

warrenrobinson said:
RWA have staff that are unemployable in the outside world.

who? i think that is emotive overreach

meatpie · October 2025

JayJay said:
The alternative is to do doing nothing whist the organisation financially implodes, under the likely spin and rubbish that will appear in the annual report, a failed attempt at polishing a turd I suspect.

All the usual "downturn in turnover, cost of living, Gaza and Ukraine War" type excuses that usually cloud these reports will be front and centre whilst management (or mismanagement tries) to exonerate themselves from their decades of failed decisions.

What's the betting that a phrase or two which cites 'cost cutting, future financial prudence and predictions of a return to positive budgets in the near future" gets a run?

RWWA might need changes but a Parliamentary Enquiry aint going to achieve anything

The RWWA Act is pretty specific, the Minister has none or very little power to change anything, would require legislative changes and doubt it would be a high priority. Maybe he can exert influence subject to funding etc. PoC tax and the % return to the industries are the biggest incentive to change.

Might be a feelgood exercise and an avenue to vent but wont achieve change. The minister has no power to over rule RWWA, cant think of one ministerial intervention other than a gentle nudge. This was the objective of Nick Griffiths who followed the wishes of the three codes to eliminate Ministerial control.

JayJay · October 2025

I know what you are saying, and it is correct with regards to Ministerial oversight, officially almost non existent. Quango's thrive in that environment of limited ministerial control. Nick Griffiths was more than happy to take on the old WATA regime in 2002 when that lot wanted to run Cunderdin's meetings (and others) at GP on a Sunday....and he did.

But the success or failure of any inquiry is defined by the terms of reference. Present peripheral, feeble, toothless terms of reference, that limit what can be examined or exposed and for sure, it is a waste of time. But have a laser like focus along with a flexibility to examine everything is critical to achieving useful change.

If Government senses that RWWA and its performance could become an electoral liability, if the Minister is portrayed as a hands off, talking head apologist overseeing an impending disaster (few in the public would be aware of how much his hands are tied, as far as the public are concerned, he is "The Minister for Racing" and it is his responsibility), if the opposition can get it's act together and not just shout and scream but present facts and figures and mount a penetrating attack, then maybe, just maybe, legislative change may gain some legs.

Despite appearances, there must eventually be a change of government in spite of a diminished and pretty much useless opposition. Whilst I accept that what you are saying is fundamentally correct, I cannot accept that we sit on our hands and do nothing.

meatpie · October 2025

any feedback on the meeting between trainers and RWWA last Thursday, did it happen?

savethegame · October 2025

Yes it happened. Stakeholders will be kept informed after each meeting.

JayJay · October 2025

From the Straight:

https://thestraight.com.au/significant-headwinds-wa-thoroughbred-trainers-lobby-state-government-for-funding-equality/


Interesting but not all is as it seems.

Thoroughbred funding 24/25 actually up $5.5 million to $135.5, both other codes reduced funding.

meatpie · November 2025

Another fringe group starting out Friends of Racing, again pushing the harness imbalance.

shothru · November 2025

warrenrobinson said:
RWA have staff that are unemployable in the outside world.

Bigger question is what do they all do?

G'day Punter!

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