The NSW Trainers Association has "supported the idea of a future fund if the state government gives tax parity to the racing industry," but does not want the money to be "used as a political football." Racing Minister Troy Grant has indicated the inter-code agreement is "unlikely to be used as the model to distribute funds if tax parity comes as part of the state budget." He said there were a "number of models being considered as part of the budget process." The NSWTA wants to see "any extra funding funnelled to infrastructure, rather than prizemoney as the racing minister suggested" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/6). ... Mercedes Non-Exec Chair Niki Lauda said that drivers will not be allowed to use a fifth "power unit" in '15 and escape penalty. That is despite Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner saying less than two weeks ago that the change to the "four engines per season" rule had been agreed "unanimously" in March. Lauda: "There will be no fifth engine. You cannot change the regulations in the middle of a season" (GMM, 5/5). ... The "saga" involving former Australian National Rugby Team Business Manager Di Patston has "played out its final chapter behind closed doors" after Patston reached an out-of-court settlement with the Australian Rugby Union. The matter was "due to be heard in Brisbane on June 2 before Judge Angelo Vasta but when the ARU failed to meet an April 30 deadline to respond to Patston's brief of evidence, it became clear a settlement was on the horizon." That "came to play late on Tuesday afternoon, with a joint release from the ARU and Patston's lawyers bringing an end to a costly saga for the code that threatened to overshadow World Cup preparations" (SMH, 5/5).
