Victoria's top racehorse trainers fear "an exodus of horses and owners to NSW unless Racing Victoria moves to match prize money increases implemented in Sydney earlier this year," according to Michael Lynch of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. A joint initiative by the local division of the Australian Trainers Association, the Victorian Jockeys Association and the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association will this week "put the pressure on Racing Victoria to take decisive action to match stakes in NSW ahead of the industry body's next board meeting." Robbie Griffiths, the group-1 winning Cranbourne trainer and federal president of the ATA, said that "it is simply an issue of underwriting industry sustainability." Griffiths: "Racing Victoria must act quickly here to protect the future of Victorian racing." When the increases were unveiled in September, NSW officials said that the prize money hikes were a "watershed" for racing in the state and "would drive its future prosperity for decades to come." Leading Victorian trainers, owners and jockeys fear that "the landmark initiative could well drive NSW's prosperous future -- but at their expense." Group 1 winning trainers Troy Corstens and Mick Price are fearful of the impact the NSW increases are already having. Both have already lost stock, the pair reporting that "a long-standing owner has already directed a horse to Sydney." Price said, "I have a number of clients who have for years supplied me with quality horses from the Hunter Valley region of NSW. This is at risk unless RV act immediately" (SMH, 11/20).
