Sydney Tracks Extend Training Hours

In an effort to heed the desires of trainers wanting to afford their staff later starting times, the Australian Turf Club will trial later finishing times to trackwork at Randwick, Rosehill and Warwick Farm beginning on July 1. While the start time to training will remain the same, trackwork finishing times will be pushed back to 9 a.m. at Rosehill and Randwick and to 9:30 a.m. at Warwick Farm.

Australian racing stable staff traditionally start their workday between 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., and while the majority of trainers didn't support a later starting time, according to the ATC, the extended times will allow options for trainers wishing to give their staff a later start time.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager of Racing Services and Membership, James Heddo, said the changes were made in response to recent debate about the prospect of losing foreign workers under changes to the federal government's 457 visa system. Many overseas workers in stables are foreign nationals that have come to Australia under the 457 visa scheme, which is set to be abolished and replaced with a temporary skill shortage visa, and there is widespread concern that, especially with such early start times, there will not be enough Australian nationals willing to take their places. Racing Australia has been working with the government to eliminate the consequences to the racing industry.

“Whilst there isn't widespread support for a later start, this trial acknowledges that the needs of trainers and their staff is changing and will still give trainers the option of allowing their staff and stables to start later and finish later in the morning if they desire,” said Heddo. “We will continue to monitor the trial and work with our trainers to ensure the optimum outcome for all participants.”