Industry Consultative Group Summary of Outcomes
STAKEMONEY STRATEGIES
1. Thursday Night Staking Strategy
A proposal was put to the panel which would reallocate approximately $175,000 of current feature stakes and top-ups
to produce a flat increase for all Thursday night racing – the amount of the increase will be lifted by GRSA as
appropriate. The group spoke about the need for Thursday night to be supported as the code’s showcase event and
that an across-the-board increase would reinforce that positioning.
It was separately observed that the GRSA staking strategy should increasingly be directed towards local outcomes
wherever possible and that GRSA should consider offering incentives for ‘SA Owned’ winners of listed and feature
races, and separately scheduling ‘SA Owned’ races. The need for better education to industry participants regarding
the strategic placement of greyhounds was identified and there was general consensus that many trainers are falling
down in this area.
ACTION: CEO and Racing Manager to model an SA Owned incentive program and circulate to the panel for
feedback.
2. Skewing of Stakes by Distance
The panel expressed its general support for a proposal put forward by the CEO which identified a longer term plan to
freeze 400m stakemoney to allow greater increases to be applied to racing over the longer distances.
3. Travel Fees/Rebate
The panel supported a proposal to make the travel rebate a strategic focus of the next round of stakemoney
increases from July 1. Discussion on this matter revolved around the need to assist trainers with the everyday costs
of racing and the need for the proposed changes to support both the professional and hobbyist participant.
4. Convenient Trialing Opportunities
The panel discussed the potential benefit of amending the weekly schedule of trialing to allow for post-meeting trials
and/or more convenient participant opportunities. The general view that was expressed related to ensuring that the
current level of opportunity was preserved, regardless of how the trial schedule may be adjusted.
ACTION: The CEO and Racing Manager to develop a weekly schedule for further ICG review.
5. Support of Service Providers
The panel confirmed the prevalence of incidents within the industry involving outstanding payment and endorsed the
potential merit in GRSA providing unique support to service providers (eg rearers, trainers). It was suggested that
GRSA may assist by drafting a standard contract for use by SA service providers and by more active defaulting of
offenders.
6. Annual Industry Auction
The CEO requested feedback on the ways in which a revamped annual auction process could best reflect the
learning of previous versions. The panel suggested that GRSA could consider having a specific race attached to the
auction, but that the event would allow buy-in at a later point. Discussion then turned to ‘claiming’ races with the
group suggesting that he saw no obvious reason why the concept could not work within the context of the greyhound
code.
On the question of syndication, the CEO provided an update to the group and indicated that the process supporting
the legal status of syndicates was fast-approaching resolution through Greyhounds Australasia. Feedback provided
indicated that the administrative process for registration of ownership could be simplified. It was suggested that an
online owner nomination process would represent further improvement in relation to this process.
ACTION: The CEO and Racing Manager to develop draft frameworks for the introduction of claiming races and a
reinstated annual auction process.
7. Random Breath-Testing
The panel indicated that it would be supportive, in principle, of the introduction of random breath-testing for
trainers/handlers, rather than requiring stewards to react or respond to indications of insobriety.