PUBLIC perception of the racing industry and animal welfare are among the main concerns for Wimmera residents to attend a racing integrity roadshow this week.
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Victoria’s Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna said people at the event in Horsham on Tuesday showed a “massive interest” in the Darren Weir investigation.
Scandal tarnishes public perception of racing
Mr Perna said the investigation had “tarred the public’s perception” of the racing industry. He said an individual’s actions had the power to tarnish the reputation of an entire industry.
“A lot of the times, these stories are fairly isolated,” he said.
“The live-baiting in greyhound racing issue involved a handful of people at one track, but their actions tarred the general public’s perception that all greyhound racers use live-baiting to train their dogs, when in fact they don’t – it was just a handful of people.”
Mr Perna said the actions among racing circles in other states also affected the perception of integrity in Victorian racing, despite no affiliations.
“There was a South Australian race where a male jockey cut across all the horses and knocked them out of the race, but his girlfriend was allegedly one of the jockeys he didn’t cut off,” he said.
These incidents tarred the public’s perception, but if people saw the effort gone into ensuring integrity they would be confident.
- Sal Perna
“People recall that story as a reason why they aren’t confident in Racing Victoria, but it was in South Australia.
“These incidents tarred the public’s perception, but if people saw the effort gone into ensuring integrity they would be confident.”
Animal welfare is a growing concern
Mr Perna said animal welfare was another concern for Wimmera people and he said it had been a growing issue.
“Previously, if there was an issue about jumps racing, whips or culling of animals, there would be a little bit of noise and it would go away – but nowadays it doesn’t,” he said. “I think it is very heartening that the three racing bodies are doing work around animal welfare.
“It is a significant issue and the three bodies are trying to have a program where they track a dog or horse from the time it is born to its death.”
However, he said it was a concern to learn that people were without an equine vet in the Wimmera.
“Welfare is a widespread concern, but I haven’t heard about the lack of equine vets before and this was the first time I have heard about it for this region,” he said.
The professionalism of stewards was also discussed at the event.
Darren Weir scandal deemed a story of success
Mr Perna considered the investigation into Darren Weir a success.
Mr Perna said the actions of an individual could create a negative perception of the industry in the eyes of the public. However, he said the community needed to remember that this investigation had been a “success story” for the industry.
“It means that Racing Victoria were suspicious and engaged with the relevant agencies that they needed to and they had an outcome,” he said.
“If they had not gone through this process, then I would have considered that a failure for them.”
Mr Perna said he did not believe that the investigation would force the three codes to change their focus on integrity in racing.
“I do not think it would change the focus of the codes internally – but I think it does externally,” he said.
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