WAGRA Annual Report 2008-2009 - Greyhounds WA

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GREYHOUND RACING ASSOCIATION
Annual Report 2008/2009
Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report
It is my privilege to provide the Chief Executive Officer’s
Report for 2008/2009.
The year has produced reasonable fi nancial results
amid a difficult economic climate with most key performance
indicators not far below the targeted outcomes.
Off-course wagering on local greyhound events at
$58.58M was slightly lower than the record fi gures
of 2007/2008 and comprised $22.94M invested on
Cannington, $31.89M on Mandurah and $3.75M on
Northam chasing. These fi gures represent a total decrease
of $1.3M on the previous 12 months.
The later start for Tuesday racing at Mandurah proved
detrimental to off-course wagering levels with a 20%
decrease experienced. Friday night racing at the same
venue was also down by more than 7% largely impacted
by the introduction of other international and local
harness fi xtures onto an already crowded schedule.
On-course fi gures at Cannington were reasonably
strong accounting for $5.81M of the total $9.50M invested
across our three venues. Cannington’s average
on-course turnover of $55,339 per race meeting was
higher than the average of the previous 12 months,
as was Northam’s slightly better result. Mandurah’s
average however was almost $3,000 lower per race
meeting; a combination of later start times and tighter
spending patterns in the Peel region generally.
157,339 people attended our 296 race meetings which
comprised Cannington 89,285, Mandurah 65,074 and
Northam 2,980. This was about 4% less than our target
attendance fi gure for the year.
One of the Association’s primary focuses is to encourage
on-course attendance, both public and restaurant
patronage, as this is the key driver of wagering revenue
and importantly the source of new owners and trainers
- the lifeblood of our industry.
The year contained many highlights on the race track
as Western Australian greyhounds performed with
distinction both locally and interstate.
The locally-bred and owned SURGEON created a big
impression in winning the Melbourne Cup at Sandown
in November 2008. Also leading the way were MISS
SLICK and WESTERN LAND, winners of the 2009 SKY
Channel Perth Cup and Galaxy Finals respectively.
In front of a crowd of more than 4,000, MISS SLICK
gave owners Max and Pam Julien their biggest moment
in the sport when she overpowered Victorian chaser
TREW MILLIONS in the run to the fi nish. The victory
was the fi rst by a WA greyhound since NIFTI FIRE was
successful in 2000. WESTERN LAND (pictured below
and on the front cover) outlasted the pre-race favourite
VINTAGE OCTANE and SIROCCO HERO to give
premiership trainer Linda Britton her fi fth Galaxy win.
Another outstanding performer during 2008/2009 was
ELEKTRA, trained by Keith Harding, which was named
the Schweppes Greyhound of the Year at a RWWA
organised awards night in March 2009.
Off the track, the greyhound industry was again extremely
active in the support of community interests
with assistance and promotion provided to a number
of charities including Cerebral Palsy Association, Make
A Wish, Appealathon, Victorian Bushfires Appeal, Princess
Margaret Hospital Foundation and Woolworths
Fresh Food Kids Hospital Appeal.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the WAGRA
Committee for their ongoing support and I would also
like to sincerely thank the dedicated management and
staff of Greyhounds WA for their commitment and effort
throughout the year.
The 2009/2010 year will no doubt be challenging
against an uncertain economy and distribution decreases
to the industry commencing 1 August 2009.
The Association has taken steps to soften the prizemoney
decreases by offering to accept less Club distribution
from RWWA and thereby absorb what would
have been a much greater stakes cut to our participants.
We welcome RWWA’s new look Distribution Model
commencing 2010/2011 and trust that funding will better
refl ect code performance and reward success.
David Simonette
Chief Executive Offi cer
5