TWO redundancies at The Gardens are part of widespread cutbacks at Greyhound Racing NSW designed to reduce costs by 30 per cent next financial year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
GRNSW announced the "organisational reset" on Monday in response to a "significant reduction in wagering turnover". It said changes include staff redundancies at its head office and operational teams, cuts to suppliers and contractors and a reduction in club distribution payments.
The decision has extra significance to the Hunter given The Gardens track at Birmingham Gardens and the Muswelllbrook course are owned and operated by GRNSW. The only other track GRNSW operates is Dapto, which it leases.
"Greyhound Racing NSW intends to streamline operations, but there are no changes to the racing schedules and regular prizemoney, or indeed no changes to any welfare and track safety plans and budgets," GRNSW CEO Rob Macaulay said.
"Some staff redundancies have been made across GRNSW ... two of these redundancies have been identified at Ladbrokes Gardens, which will result in changes to the way the club is overseen and managed, including with more input and oversight from GRNSW to improve efficiencies across the board."
GRNSW would not comment on where the cuts would be made at The Gardens, which typically races twice a week. GRNSW's Mike Brady has been administrator there since March 2022.
Newcastle Greyhound Racing Club members voted in January 2023 to accept GRNSW as permanent administrators.
Brady was appointed after an external company ran and reviewed the club's operation for about four months, following the loss of key staff and directors.
"GRNSW is committed to Ladbrokes Gardens and the Hunter Valley as a key region in NSW greyhound racing. We are working with all staff departing the organisation to assist with transitioning and have provided counselling and support," Macaulay said.
GRNSW's full statement below:
Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has today announced an Organisational Reset to reduce costs and streamline its business efficiencies due to tough trading and market conditions.
The changes will include staff redundancies at its head office and operational teams, cuts to suppliers and contractors and a reduction in club distribution payments.
GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Rob Macaulay said the Organisational Reset had targeted operational savings of 30% across total budget expenditure in FY2024-25.
"In making these necessary changes, great efforts have been made to preserve returns to participants who are the lifeblood of our sport," Mr Macaulay said.
"Prizemoney per race remains the same, but for some adjustments to Group and Feature races that have already been published.
"There will be no negative impact on animal welfare or track safety initiatives, which will continue with increased funding in line with past years and firm commitments for world-best practices."
Mr Macaulay said the Organisational Reset followed a state-wide consultation period with participants, industry leaders and business partners.
"Like other racing bodies in Australia, GRNSW is currently experiencing tougher trading conditions due to the effects of a significant reduction in wagering turnover," he said.
"GRNSW revenue derived from wagering operators is down 22.5% this year, which is having a material impact on our overall income. The headwinds for wagering operators in the Australian market are severely strong, and they are negatively impacting racing organisations, ours included.
"Unfortunately, and with great regret, the substantial impact on GRNSW operations has resulted in job losses as part of a full business review.
"We are providing support and assistance for those who are departing our business, including counselling and career transition services."
Mr Macaulay said the majority of redundancies identified as part of the process were being affected in head office managerial and administration roles, together with the re-purposing of the Wyee kennel facility. Wyee will be developed as a home base for retired NSW greyhounds identified for rehoming through GRNSW's "Aussie Mates" US rehoming program, with the Wyee facility to now be managed by a welfare logistics partner.
"The Chairman and I have just completed a state-wide consultation process. This Organisational Reset comes after a full business review and extended consultations with participants, club and association leaders and business partners to meet the reality that wagering revenue declines are not a blip but look to be here for the short term at least," he said.
"We have identified cost savings, including head office cutbacks, supplier and contractor cutbacks, and we are in the process of finalising club distribution payment programs, which have historically been in line with revenue derived from wagering turnover.
"I stress that all animal welfare programs, including rehoming efforts, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) re-training for retired greyhounds, track safety works, and upgrades will remain fully funded with an unwavering commitment to the world's best standards.
"As a business, we will look to be more agile, lean, and efficient in our operations, but participants should not be affected. Indeed, we hope that participants and the industry more broadly will benefit from these important changes as we reset our cost base in line with market conditions."
BOURKES SAVOUR BREAKTHROUGHS
Millers Forest father-and-son team Chris and Andrew Bourke celebrated breakthrough wins with developing three-year-olds at Newcastle Paceway on Monday.
Andrew drove Kevin Pizzuto-bred and owned gelding Zolton ($6) to a head-margin win over Eyes Been Patient after a battle down the home straight.
It was a first win in 16 starts for Zolton, which was having just his fourth run for the Bourkes.
Andrew then took Luvabeerwithjohnny ($9.50) to the front in the next race and the colt was in control throughout for a 3.5m victory at his fourth start.
Trainer Chris was pleased to see Luvabeerwithjohnny put it all together.
"He's just green and not the biggest horse but you'd like to get him cut and give me a bit of a spell, but we'll just see what the weather's like and what we can do with him," Chris said.
"He's just getting better. At his first start he was behind the leader before it stopped on him, and then he didn't get out at all at his next start. He overraced a bit when he lead last start and just didn't finish off, but he didn't have to do as much work out of the gates today.
"[Zolton] has been a bit unlucky and he's still pretty green and learning to race. He's not doing everything right. First start we had him, he broke and didn't get beat far. Then he's done a few other things wrong."
