Status of the Industry 2024/2025

JayJay · December 2025

The RWWA Industry Status Report was released yesterday. It provides an assessment of where we are at with trends in turnover, licensed personal, foalings, horse population etc. Few in the Industry would read it (covers all 3 codes, 42 pages of graphs, tables etc), probably even fewer on this forum.

Some snapshots

Number of race meetings static at 255
100 less races than in 23/24 (back to 20/21 levels of 2092 races)
Number of starters down from 19921 to 19219
Stakes distribution unchanged at $30.6 million from 23/24, so effectively a 3% to 5% cut to participants depending on what you believe inflation was.
Driver/Trainers in decline , 218 in 22/23 to 85 in 24/25 but number of licensed trainers only up from 168 in 22/23 to 259 in 24/25 as licenses to drive are relinquished or taken away under new regulations.
Drivers only numbers in decline from 50 in 21/22 down to 37 in 24/25 which includes the influx of concession drivers , the majority of whom don't train (as yet).
Number of horses that raced down from 1576 in 23/24 to 1474 in 24/25
Number of foals down from a 5 year peak of 399 in 23/24 to 362 in 24/25.
National Harness Wagering Turnover down from $421 million to $388 million.
On Course Betting Turnover in WA static at $3.8 million.

I have done individual club figures for return on investment, a fairly labour intensive process of trawling through the turnover figures supplied in the report, applying the percentages that apply to determine the revenue generated (different scales apply for different clubs depending on their status, metropolitan, provincial, community) and lining them up against stakemoney paid. This is an annual comparison that clearly shows the return on investment on a revenue generated versus stakes paid basis. There are other various and large scale costs involved in running a meeting that are met by RWWA but this is the best and easiest comparison to understand.

It is complete but I just have to format and post which I will attend to shortly.

savethegame · December 2025

SUVALJKO Family supply nearly 20% of available drivers.

The operation of individual clubs part of their income was 10% of turnover waged on course, clubs took hit when punters on course were betting with phones re-tab & corporates, Think about between 12--14 years ago through tracking account holders' area of bet placement they could determine if account holders were on course. Don't know if this still applies.

Average per race betting on course nine race programs 3,800,000 -- 255 meetings = 14,901

then divided by 9 =1655 ---14 cents tax in dollar win & place 231 dollars per race generate-

don't know whether individual trot clubs run there on course fixed odds. some country race clubs do.

Surely Northam trot and race clubs could alternate by opening there tab machines for couple hours on wed & fri, for walk ins.

- Has been at least two months for a Walkin option 12k people live in Northam

warrenrobinson · December 2025

No Breeders, No Trainers, No Drivers, No Owners, No Industry.

Markovina · December 2025

I will post it under this thread seeing its the status of the industry

Ive bought a couple of Aust harness racing magazines only $15 each and looking forward to receiving them

its called Harness horse , the 1st one in 1979 has got a great colour picture on the front cover of the mighty Paceface Adios with Colin Pike in the sulky , and its got on the front re whats inside - WA new champions and the state of the NSW Harness racing industry in 79 - so they should be both an interesting read

And the other one i bought was 1972 , again a great colour picture on the front cover , this time the champion Dont Retreat , with Laurie Moulds in those famous light blue with pink sleeve colours , again it should be an interesting read

JayJay · December 2025

Something not quite right about your 1972 magazine Marko. Don't Retreat was a 1970 foal and his colours were blue with a striking gold sash.

Blue with the Pink Sleeves were Red Vicar's colours of his owner Vic Murphy. Laurie Moulds campaigned Red Vicar over east in 1972, winning the Albion Park 10,000 and numerous big races at both Harold Park and Albion Park and his 1.59.6 time trial to set a Queensland record.

So I am thinking Red Vicar is the horse on the front cover.

Markovina · December 2025

Your probably right Jay Jay , ive jumped the gun and just assumed it was Dont Retreat

Markovina · December 2025

Just received at the door by the postie 1972 Australasian Harness Horse - September 1972 , yes it was Red Vicar defeating Reichman in the Ten Thousand

Ii is a ripper magazine 64 pages - and big pages say 10 inches by 5 inches accross

Every state is covered in detail - Teenage star Ross Sugars and a picture of him

WA there is quite a bit - a picture of FRK - honestly looks like the 5th beatle his hair is that long - quote " 10 Years ago Fred Kersley junior found it impossible to drive a winner - he had to take a job in a bakery operating a bread slicing machine to make ends meet

Feature article by guess who - and this is 53 years ago - Ken Casellas of course . as follows $100,000 Prth Pacing Cup

" West should benefit from $100,000 Pacing Cup " - The losses to America of dozens of our top pacers including Mount Eden and Juniors Image have denuded our ranks . The WATA decision ( re 100k cup ) has gone gone a long way in making owner trainer Vic Murphy want to keep champion Red Vicar in this state . The clash of Red Vicar with top e/states pacers like Welcome Advice, Bay Foyle, Alecane, Reichman ,Para Chief, Bold David, Deep Court ,Globe Score Glamour Chief, and My Gal Sal would arouse tremendous interest in the West .

Star Bets for September - there is about 6 listed under each state , but this one caught my eye re WA - ' The Company - Fred Hough has this fallacy 5 yo with his foot firmly planted on the till - should soon reproduce his trial form in races in the country "

" Rickey has proved a Supermarket Special " - A decision by Armadale housewife Doreen Couper to pay $25 for a broadmare( Monochrome) with a foal at foot at a disposal sale at the small country town of Quairading several years ago has been responsible for the emergence of one of the states glamour pacers - The mares last foal is Rickey Reason who burst back into the limelight with a brilliant first up win in the invitation stakes at GP on Aug 11 . The 1st foal was Anunaka , he won 16 races - the next of her foals was Dream Note who won 5 races in the country

Victoria - " Live TV Coverage has paid Dividends " - A slight fall in attendances and a tremendous rise in off course betting - that in a nutshell is the story of the past season at the Melb Showground Trots " Attendances at the 44 meetings averaged 16,258 - however the rise in off course tote investment was a little short of staggering up 6.25 million to $25 million

WA 1971/72 Metropolitan Reinsmens List

Lyle Lindau (203.5 pts )

FRK (203 pts)

R Sweetman

J Schrader

L Marriot

B Cushing

T Warwick

L Austin

savethegame · December 2025

Names that jolt the memory. Happened to be at Golden Mile when Fred Hough got 12 months he didn't move in cart like he had a stroke, One punter was yelling out two to go on the 649m track under the main steward's box . Let it go Freddy around mid 80s
Horse may have been Wild Justice or similar.
Lindau & Schrader both born Kalgoorlie
as was Joe Suvaljko in early 30s
Schrader was one of the most fearless playing twoup no emotion.

History of Boulder Race riots 1934 Joe Suvaljko, his brother and two sisters all under the age of 5 when there house was set alight along with 78 homes. due to miracle only one corner burnt.
Now we see Emily has reached 800 winners the family is marching on to 5000 winners at rapid rate.

JayJay · December 2025

Modern Day Status of the Industry:

New Years Eve at GP, once the showcase of our sport, Cup Night, not a picnic blanket to be seen, the joint was rocking, star horses, iconic event now reduced to a fireworks show.

This year, 8 x $9360 mid week fields, just 70 acceptors, last race pay 1/2 only.

Same night, in Bunbury, 8 x $9,360 races, 77 acceptors, pay 1/2/3 all races. What does this say about the state of the Industry but nothing see, play on.

warrenrobinson · December 2025

A very short but fact written summary of where our industry's at JayJay.

JayJay · December 2025

savethegame said:
Now we see Emily has reached 800 winners the family is marching on to 5000 winners at rapid rate.

Family total is well past 5000 already STG.....and that doesn't include Joe Snr's contribution, or any of the inlaws. Shannon alone over 2,500.

savethegame · December 2025

That's even better mine was just quick calc
Shannon 2600 Callan 1200 Emily
800 Joe 300. --- Heading for 6,000,
Just seen where family averaging about 6 winners week driving. .24/25

Old Joe rode gallopers in work, also Raceday get paid to ride horses from Boulder to Kalgoorlie racecourse for trainers no floats.

warrenrobinson · December 2025

State Government has today announced a Financial Sustainability and Governance Review of the WA racing industry. Interesting times ahead.

warrenrobinson · December 2025

Certainly not the same as a Parliamentary Inquiry where people are required to answer questions under oath.

JayJay · December 2025

Until we see details of how former Minister/MLA David Templeman and Professor Warren Harding intend to conduct the inquiry, it is hard to comment on how serious the government or the Minister are. It remains unclear as to what triggered the Review but with Mining Royalties possibly in some decline and government spending above targets, any request for "Tax Relief" or extra Government Funding for "Special Projects" is not the walk up start that it once was.

The ongoing dismal numbers in the Annual Report to Parliament and in the Industry Status Report and already falling stakes in Harness (both announce and unannounced) may also have been a catalyst but until we see more information, it is just guess work. It is particularly relevant to see the word "Integrity" included in the Ministers Press release. Does this mean the Head of Integrity and the Stewarding will be under scrutiny? We will just have to wait and see.

Certainly, a parliamentary inquiry, such as the one conducted into the WAFC by the Public Accounts Committee, bipartisan in nature with representatives from all political parties,with officials and witnesses called and required to answer questions without prior notice under oath, with daily press and media access, is a far more searching process than simply calling for submissions from interested participants, organisations or heaven forbid, the general public.

Review announcements generally follow a well trodden pathway. Government appoints someone sympathetic to their cause, who will reach conclusions, though not exactly pre-prepared, that sit comfortably with government policy and of course, the bottom line. As Sir Humphrey Appleby famously said,"Never look into anything you don't have to. And never set up an inquiry unless you know in advance what its findings will be."

The CEO of the Department or Quango being inquired into traditionally releases a statement "welcoming the review", "we have nothing to hide, it will clear the air, provide a pathway for moving forward"....all that sort of standard public servant garbage.....when in reality, they welcome the review with as much enthusiasm as finding a Tiger Snake in your sock drawer.

This is usually followed by an urgent call for "wall paperers and plasterers" to effect urgent repairs to any cracks or hairline fractures, both evident and seemingly invisible, in the organisation, and all summer leave is cancelled as submissions are fervently written clearing the department of any mismanagement, overstaffing, bloated salaries, overspending or policy failure (perish the thought of any excessive junkets or god forbid, even a hint of corruption). We run "a mean,lean, financially pared back to the absolute bone" organisation, conclusions are circulated, along with the desperate need for more government "investment" to provide either a stable financial future moving forward, or to stabilise the industry in financially "turbulent times". Industry "blue prints" usually emerge at this stage in order to guarantee or 'future proof" the Industry. At the end of the review, certain submissions from certain organisations invariably carry more weight than others and the final report is released detailing pretty much what the government wants. Rarely, if ever, do final reports recommend mass sackings, reveal impropriety, suggest structural or legislative change and every pretty much rocks up Monday morning and carries on, nothing much to see.

Of course, that is a light hearted, none too serious assessment but sadly, it won't be far from the truth. Until Templeman releases his "modus operandi" or terms of reference, it is difficult to get too excited about today's announcement but I suppose it is better than looking the wrong way in the train tunnel and ignoring the high speed train hurtling us towards industry oblivion..

JayJay · December 2025

GP fields didn't land until after 7pm tonight. What a shambles. Must be like the ressies coach ringing around on Saturday morning trying to put a team on the park.

Just 5 races at Busselton, 37 acceptors more acceptors for Bunbury New Years Eve (77) than headquarters (70), both mid week type programmes. GP News Eve, once the showcase of the sport is just a fireworks show with 8 non descript mid week races? What a highlight?

Didn't take long for the Geckos to resume their power play ...first 3 races Friday Night are all Random Barrier Draw across very wide NR bands (65 to 84).....just how the elite like it. Ridiculous.

Just when things were looking better, a change of programmer, and is it heading back over the cliff it scrambled up, back to the previous RBD garbage, as it was under HWOE? They keep reprising the famous statement of the former CEO who said that "barrier draws are not a handicapping tool". Sure they aren't Rich, sure they aren't. Plenty of fodder for the Review if they ask the right questions.

JayJay · December 2025

David Templeman is conducting historic tours of Mandurah as a costumed stand-up comedian.

I hope he is more serious about the inquiry.

savethegame · December 2025

His going to have more humour then Freddie Starr & Benny Hill, ----When they tell have you heard this one

We have given 30 million in stakes to harness racing we can't, afford anymore,

Then we promised 24 million to G,P to move winning post so we look into the sun for the first three races, but wait G,P, in return Going to receive 2 million per year back for five years.

Hour before the first race,

OUR MOTTO

Will be broadcasted on course

HARNESS THE RHYTHM

BUILD THE PROFILE OF HARNESS RACING.

INSTILL CONDFIDENCE WITHIN

INDUSTRY AND ENCOURAGE

PARTICIPATION TO BROADER AUDIENCE

SLIPPERGOLDEN · December 2025

Freddie Starr. Only Brits would know that comedian.

savethegame · December 2025

Slip,--Glad someone else has heard of Freddie,.---Thought he was very good at the caper.

warrenrobinson · December 2025

Watch this space, special guest at GP David Templeton to be wined and dined.

Arapaho · January 1

Freddie Starr, great comedian,could tell a story, scared the crap out of Ali with one of them.

Can google it, Freddie Starr and Muhhammed Ali .

Getting of the topic here, but well worth a look and laugh..

savethegame · January 3

warrenrobinson said:
Watch this space, special guest at GP David Templeton to be wined and dined.

Has BOTRA asked for a meeting with Templeman or Harding to raise 2- or 3-points of major concern, before review.

warrenrobinson · January 3

savethegame said:

warrenrobinson said:
Watch this space, special guest at GP David Templeton to be wined and dined.
Has BOTRA asked for a meeting with Templeman or Harding to raise 2- or 3-points of major concern, before review.

That's a question for BOTRA.

Markovina · January 3

Re Status of the Industry

To give you an idea how much Trotting has slipped , in 1979 ( in that magazine ) the Kapunda Pacing Cup , or should i say the Channel 7 Kapunda Pacing Cup 13.3k , now say 10k to the winner - i think with that money back then you could buy 2 brand new Falcons or Holdens

Fast Forward to today over 45 years - the Kapunda Cup worth about the same and for 10k today you wouldnt even be able to buy some tiny Korean Shiit box of a car

SLIPPERGOLDEN · January 3

Freddie Starr as Hemessed Histroosers (Demis Roussos) and also a duet with David Bowie are both memorable

SLIPPERGOLDEN · January 3

PP refers to harness racing in WA being in a world of pain.

warrenrobinson · January 3

PP bases everything on facts.

G'day Punter!

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