Alan Brown, (left) formerly deputy chairman of the Sydney Turf Club and now an elected member of the Racing NSW Board, and Paul Garrard, then lord mayor of Parramatta, sealing the partnership between council and the STC in 2003. Cr Garrard is the current deputy lord mayor of the city.

Parramatta City Council and the Sydney Turf Club have ramped up their relationship, which has been in the doldrums since a partnership was signed some six years ago.

In essence the aim of the partnership was to grow attendance at STC events, particularly the annual Golden Slipper, and to help boost the economy of Parramatta, with racegoers patronising the city’s restaurant and hotels

Notwithstanding the equine influenza outbreak in 2007 and 2008 which curtailed racing in the state, the partnership has never really taken off.

Now council and the STC are discussing joint promotions for the Golden Slipper which will be held at Rosehill, on April 4.

Merger talks between STC and AJC

The Australian Jockey Club has embraced pursuing all avenues involved in merging with the Sydney Turf Club in a bid to secure the financial future and prosperity of metropolitan racing, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

AJC CEO, Norman Gillespie said the racing industry “needs reform … the industry’s funding model is breaking down,” he said. An independent body would examine the merits and pitfalls of such a merger and report back in 12 months’
time.

Sports academy relocates

The Western Sydney Academy of Sport, formerly at Parramatta Stadium, has relocated its administration premises to a new facility at Penrith CUA Stadium, where it intends growing its program and athlete numbers to provide even more quality development opportunities for local youngsters.

“Penrith is identified as one of the regional centres in the State Government’s economic development plans (so) you want to be somewhere where business is pretty pro-active and when you look at Penrith, it just made sense to come out here and capitalise on the opportunities,” Martin Bullock, CEO, of the academy, told the media.