Racing move approved …

By Paul Pickering
THERE was good news at last for Pakenham’s 100-strong horse training community this week, with Racing Victoria Limited rubber-stamping Pakenham Racing Club’s relocation to a 570-acre site near Nar Nar Goon.
RVL’s backing prompted a collective sigh of relief from local trainers, who had faced the prospect of an imposed move to Cranbourne under the racing body’s plans to cut funding to more than half of Victoria’s training centres.
The ‘New Pakenham’ site, which will include a state-of-the-art training facility and extensive stabling area, is expected to provide a new home for Pakenham trainers from the 2012/13 racing season.
Pakenham Trainers’ Association (PTA) president Julien Welsh welcomed the news on Tuesday, hailing it as an exciting opportunity for the local racing community.
“It’s fantastic to see that Pakenham Racing Club is going forward, because six months ago we were actually fighting to stay alive,” Welsh explained.
“It’s great that people have actually got some foresight, because that’s what racing needs.”
RVL is yet to announce its verdict on the continuation of training funding in the short term, but Welsh is confident that Pakenham’s future is now secure.
“(Tuesday’s announcement) gives trainers peace of mind, knowing that they won’t have to relocate. There’s going to be land offered to trainers to buy or lease on course, new training facilities and a state-of-the-art track – what more could you want?”
Pakenham Racing Club’s racing manager Michael Hodge was keen to acknowledge the role played by the trainers in securing RVL’s backing, particularly through a February submission that documented the strength and importance of the Pakenham training base.
“They met the challenge that was thrown at them by Racing Victoria Limited,” Hodge said.
“I think they made RVL question whether going over to Cranbourne was in the best interests of the industry – and I think that was the crux of the issue.”
Welsh agreed that the submission had helped to not only ‘keep Pakenham alive’, but to position the club as an industry leader. “We’re leading the way now, and once they see what we’ve got and what we’ve achieved out there (at the new site), I think it’s going to open a lot of people’s eyes,” he declared.