Breeding & Racing Magazine

Messara Says "New Era Of Hope & Optimism"

Racing NSW chairman John Messara told The Daily Telegraph the recent High Court victory in the NSW Race Fields case "didn't just release much-needed funds for the NSW racing industry, it also ushered in a new era of hope & optimism for the sport". Messara declared: "I'm getting a sense that there is a real momentum shift in the NSW racing industry. At the races & the sales there is a new feeling out there, a new confidence in Sydney & NSW racing. International racing people who have been at the sales this week admire what has been done here. They are envious of our system & are hoping to emulate it. We have done the heavy lifting in NSW & set a precedent that will be followed around the world. The pay-off for the NSW racing industry is immediate, but this is only the beginning. We are working on other initiatives to increase prize-money further for NSW racing." Messara also noted: "The rejuvenation of Randwick will be important to the future of racing in Sydney. I took 8 or 9 international breeders to Randwick during the week & (ATC chairman) John Cornish gave us a presentation of what the track will look like in 18 months & they were all very, very impressed with the type of facility we are going to have."