THE coast along the south-west is not only a drawcard for tourists, but for racehorse trainers.
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The soothing waters have drawn trainers to the area, with massive growth depicted over the past 10 years.
After Prince of Penzance won the 2015 Melbourne Cup, trainer Darren Weir told a national television audience of 3.58 million the gelding’s preparation in the south-west, under the care of Jarrod McLean, was crucial.
Weir, who is planning a significant expansion of his on-course operation in Warrnambool, said dune and beach work provided training variety.
“It's a great change for the horses when we take them back to Ballarat from Warrnambool. They have really freshened up,” he said.
Horse racing is booming in the Warrnambool district. Between August 2014 and November last year there were 582 individual horses stabled in the area. Over the past three years the average horse numbers using facilities at the Warrnambool racecourse has grown from 2600 to 3391.
It might surprise some but back in the late 1990s, Warrnambool City Council developed a plan for the equine industry.
The city’s then director of economic development, Tom Lindsey, said the racing industry had put Warrnambool on the map.
“Clearly the horse industry is a part of the culture of the region,” he said. “The thought back then was we needed to take a more coordinated approach. There was plenty of potential in the industry and we wanted it brought together to create a critical mass of horse activities. Clearly now trainers have recognised the beaches’ potential.”
Along with increasing numbers of trainers and horses, the May Racing Carnival’s popularity has risen.
In 2013 more than 71,000 people were directly involved in the racing industry as an employee, volunteer or participant, with 62.8 per cent of those people residing in regional Victoria.
The 2013 size and scope of the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry study showed there was 731 full time employees in the Western District. The value added impact was $75.1 million.
Warrnambool Racing Club sales and marketing manager Brad Pole said the carnival had “definitely” grown during his seven years at the club.
“The May Racing Carnival is a major contributor to employment and economic well-being in Warrnambool,” he said. “It makes a significant contribution to other industries including tourism, retail and hospitality. I think a lot of the townsfolk would understand the overall social and economic benefits of the carnival.”
Country Racing Victoria chief executive Scott Whiteman said nearly half of the $1.5 billion in spending generated by the thoroughbred racing industry occurred in regional parts of the state. The then-Premier Denis Napthine said in May 2013 the Warrnambool Racing Carnival was worth $70 million to the local community.