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Interview with Eddie Rigg
West Australian Racing
TheDiva
13,248 posts
Here is the link, well worth a listen. https://www.tabtouch.com.au/tabcontent/media/racingradio/Aug_5_Eddie Rigg.mp3
A few points from the interview:
1. Everyone keeps banging on about the WATAB being the one that "funds the industry". This is misinformation. The bookies ALSO actually fund the industry via their betting tax. Lets not forget that when we get the RWWA spin that they are the only ones contributing.
2. I was always under the impression that Ascot was leased and not owned. Its a surprise to me now that it has been owned all along. There was mention that we needed to get two tracks at one venue, which would be Belmont. Therefore the sale of Ascot could be on the cards (if I read between the lines correctly).
3. Belmont redevelopment is off. This is the first time it has been confirmed outside of rumours. There is $25 mill to spend on it, which is not enough to complete it.
Comments
Selling Ascot would be stupid and won't happen
:-?? what the facts are
However if they own both - pour some $$ into the track and build the new flash grandstand at Ascot - a lot more chance of utilising function rooms etc than across the road from the casino.
Develop Belmont into an A class training facility and rent boxes out - win/win for everybody - trainers get a great facility - PR get a constant income.
Use Belmont for mid weekers - Ascot for primes
when did they "buy" it?
I am sure during all the talk of the Belmont redevelopment it was mentioned a number of times that ascot was subject to a peppercorn lease arrangement.
I am confused with the whole thing about Belmont...and indeed PR in general.... :-w
paraletic, RIO likes this post.
scoot likes this post.
One comment/post only, due to the fact that I go off on stupid tangents when I hear stuff banded around like this.
It was put to all members as part of the redevelopment that selling Belmont was a good option as the government would keep supporting the efforts to develop Ascot due to the signing of a new peppercorn rent agreement for another 99 years....and now we own it????? I thought we owned all the infrastructure, but I didn't know we owned the land.
When asked if PR Members were conned - after a long silence he said NO, if the land wasn't sold we could be sitting here owning 2 tracks in the metro area and be at the mercer of the state government in how they are run...Whilst earlier stating that they need to raise an extra 27million to upgrade Belmont and do the necessary work at Ascot.
Does he not realise that the large majority of PR's funding comes via the government coffers anyway??? And we are going to be at the mercy of someone if we cant generate the income needed??
Maybe the members haven't been conned, (although if the club owns the Ascot land we definitely have) but they have been fed inaccurate information - specifically to the cost of the process. I was at a meeting when these costs were challenged only to hear Ted proclaim that the person speaking was way out of his depths and had no idea about anything to do with building costs, and that PR had used the best estimators and architects to come up with an affordable plan.. Eddie wasn't even on the board at the time so I don't expect him to be bound by that....but the process that went on to get the members to agree to this deal was based on what PR wanted it to be based on. And it is appearing less and less likely it was based on facts!!!
Maintaining Belmont as our number one Metro track is a great concept and one I look forward to being developed and celebrated for many years to come....The majority of the present committee should be ran out of town for their ineptness in how this has come about...
End of rant.....end of comments on this thread by me...... Eddie sells well, but I have a feeling that he was being "someone's" puppet...as is that "someone's" want to do repetitively over many years!!
RIO likes this post.
IntoIt likes this post.
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Ascot track is leased, PR do own some land in close proximity to the track that includes the admin building.
In real estate terms isnt having Belmont like having the worst house on the best street in relation to the casino, transport and now the new sports oval.
they just have to very careful how they use the $25m. Maybe use Sam Walshs [of Rio] template. Have to say am not too confident of the present commitee members.
And what of Gloucester park, who owns that and what of its sale and contributing towards Belmont.
RIO, Dale likes this post.
Harness club own GP, don't see that being sold to help the gallops! They are clinging on to the notion that they will be able to run meetings, functions etc around the footy, don't think it will make much of a difference but I'd be rapt if it did.
I agree if they don't already own the land in Jandakot then good luck! Lucky if you get change from a mil and a half for 5 acres!
Didn't hear all of Eddie but as far as I stand ATM it's just all words. GP was sitting on a gold mine, I think the worst thing harness could do would be leave GP in terms of attracting new blood to the sport but there's still plenty of land there and a bloody big grandstand that doesn't get used, they could have redeveloped and sold some land leaving the club in a great financial position whilst still at its spiritual home but they talked and talked and talked until bang the boom is over. The WACA talked and talked and talked a development is coming a development is coming and then boom a thousand other apartments go up before they can even look at presale and shock horror they've missed the boat. The Belmont redevelopment is coming the Belmont redevelopment and then BOOM! it's not coming.
Sorry for being a cynic, as an 18yr old I did a bit of work in a harness stable, I loved it but there was so much negativity and talk of people getting out of the sport and I got talked out of ever thinking of trying to make a career of it, I use to hate the negativity. BUT as a 30yr old basically all I have seen of my time in racing is talk and talk and talk.
I know you have to talk to get things right but you also have to do something to get things right!
That too is my one rant on the topic.
paraletic, RIO, thefalcon, lame likes this post.
As much as i love and respect history, things change. Used to ride in the bush where Hammomd Park is . Now is just a sea of roofs.
Glosecter Park is a waste of of real estate. and i bet the likes of Eddie Riggs has the same thought. But the money would be handy.
What of Fremantle moving to Cockburn or footy from subiaco
Minimal government support for all 3 codes, possible TAB sale and a general lack of positive engagement on the future of racing can be attributed to the relationship breakdown.
Was told Barnett was asked what racing could do to get more support.
He replied, change the government.
RIO, thefalcon likes this post.
Yeah still there