Racing chief optimistic about Stony’s future

THE future of the Stony Creek Racing Club is not in doubt despite funding cutbacks, president Paul O’Sullivan has assured the community.

Addressing South Gippsland Shire Council last Wednesday, he said the club stood to miss out on $100,000 a year from Country Racing Victoria from 2016-17, through the loss of a training centre and a race meeting.

That equates to 60 per cent of the club’s industry funding, as the industry focuses on bigger, centralised racecourses.

“As these cuts get deeper and deeper, it will be harder for us to put on lots of good race meetings,” he said.

“Stony Creek could end up with one or two race meetings a year. That would be a great shame because I think race meetings are great days for the community to come along and celebrate.”

But Mr O’Sullivan remained optimistic.

“We do not believe the survival of the club is under threat. Our challenge is to make the club thrive as well as survive,” he said.

He said the club offers a venue for people to socialise, with up to 2500 fans attending major race days. The club also benefits community groups that assist on race days as these groups are paid for their efforts. The club distributes $15,000 to community groups each season.

The club has made staffing changes to save money and no longer pays a chief executive officer. The committee of 13 volunteers employs three part-time staff who are responsible for day to day operations.

“We are trying to work with Country Racing Victoria to try and improve our situation. This coming year, we think we are in a reasonably sound financial situation,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

Some trainers have moved to Pakenham and others are likely to retire. During the club’s heydays in the 1980s, 36 trainers were based at Stony Creek. Now there are six.

Cr Nigel Hutchison-Brooks wondered if the club’s facilities could be shared more widely with the community.

Tough race: South Gippsland Shire Councillor Mohya Davies discusses the future of the Stony Creek Racing Club with club president Paul O’Sullivan.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Aug 25 2015. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry