Racing WA suspends events at Albany Racing Club immediately due to the ‘club’s ongoing financial challenges’

Albany Racing Club’s immediate future is in turmoil after a decision by Racing WA on Tuesday to suspend racing at the Great Southern venue due to financial issues. Racing WA released a statement on Wednesday, saying that racing will be suspended at ARC’s Percy Spencer Racecourse immediately. The decision comes due to the “club’s ongoing financial challenges”. “We have made extensive efforts to work collaboratively with the club to develop a viable financial plan, however, this is yet to be achieved,” Racing WA chief racing officer David Hunter said. “Suspending racing is never a decision taken lightly and this step will provide the club the necessary time to focus on addressing its financial position and developing a long-term solution.” Albany was set to hold a meeting next Friday, February 21 — that fixture has now been moved to Mt Barker Turf Club. The Great Southern season consists of 20 meetings, this year 18 scheduled for Albany and just two at Mt Barker. Grass coverage issues on the Albany track forced the relocation of its first meeting this season on November 3 but the club has since held eight meetings. Those meetings included their biggest day of the year when thousands attended the Boxing Day Races plus the recent Fitzpatrick Plate on January 5. Racing WA says a decision on the remainder of Albany’s meetings is yet to be made. The club’s major slot race — named The Bluff Knoll on March 16 — is just four weeks away. Hunter said Racing WA was hopeful the club would implement a sustainable financial model ahead of this time. “Importantly, the suspension of racing does not impact the club’s ability to continue operating as a training facility,” he said. “We appreciate the industry’s understanding and will continue to provide updates as we work towards a positive outcome for the Albany Racing Club which ensures its sustainability and long-term future.” ARC has been in the Great Southern racing community for 160 years, becoming a leading provincial venue in WA. Racing WA said it was committed to supporting the club in implementing a sustainable model to ensure it continued to serve the community for generations to come. In November former ARC general manager Mark Bayliss was fined $5600 for what his lawyer Mark Andrews called a “very clumsy attempt” at circumventing a Racing and Wagering WA grant process. Bayliss pleaded guilty to one charge of attempting to gain a benefit for another by fraud in Albany Magistrates Court, after having another fraud charge discontinued. He applied for a $42,000 grant from Racing and Wagering WA to cover the cost of a water truck to improve the conditions of the track at the ARC to avoid the club being subject to legal action over safety conditions. Bayliss provided a quote from a company he was the director of to the tune of $20,250 as part of the grant application and signed a declaration that he had no personal interest in the application. He had been the general manager at ARC since 2019 but has not returned since the court proceedings were completed. The ARC last year appointed Karen Short as acting manager while Alan Smith took the reins as the club’s new president, replacing Ken Thomas. ARC has been contacted for comment.