LIVE racing action and trackside commentary at the Allan Scott Glenburnie Racecourse will soon be beamed to audiences across the world following a landmark deal by the state’s thoroughbred racing body.
As part of the Racing.com deal, a number of races at the Glenburnie Racecourse will be live streamed to a wider digital market of waging operations and households.
Thoroughbred Racing SA (TRSA) officials – who were in the city for the $3.3m Glenburnie track redevelopment funding announcement – described the multi-million dollar media rights agreement as exciting for the Mount Gambier racing industry.
TRSA chief operating officer Nick Redin said the media agreement would see racing at Glenburnie potentially reach 98pc of SA households on free-to-air television.
He said the deal would enable regional trainers and Mount Gambier Racing Club to raise their profiles.
“Every Wednesday and Saturday we will have live hosting on course across the state – and that includes Mount Gambier,” Mr Redin said.
He said the production house was in Mount Gambier last week looking at where the host and cameras would be placed.
Mr Redin said part of the project included building new outside broadcasting trucks.
He said every regional cup meeting, including the Mount Gambier Gold Cup – would have live broadcasting and commentary trackside.
“We are spending $160,000 on new cabling at the Glenburnie Racecourse,” Mr Redin explained.
“TRSA is reinvesting in the industry and the infrastructure to make sure the cabling is best practice.”
Importantly, he said the project aimed to raise the profile of the Mount Gambier club and regional trainers.
“Post race interviews with trainers will happen when we have live on-course broadcasting,” the industry official said.
“There are 2500 jobs across the state that are generated by the industry – we want to keep growing it.”
TRSA chair Frances Nelson said the new media rights agreement represented the best possible outcome for the industry.
“The agreement reached with Racing.com and their sublicence to Sky Racing ensures that South Australian racing will not only continue to be screened on the channels provided by Sky, but also make our racing available via the free-to-air platforms that Seven West Media and Racing.com can provide,” she said.
“It will allow our industry to be more thoroughly showcased via the Racing.com programs, which provides great exposure for all clubs and participants.”
Racing.com chief executive Andrew Catterall the addition of 180 South Australian thoroughbred racing meetings to the existing calendar of 520 Victorian and 88 Hong Kong meetings greatly enhanced viewer experience.
“Our shared objective will use this philosophy of every screen, every phone, every connected device to grow nationwide audience and interest in SA thoroughbred racing and, in turn, help grow wagering turnover and revenues for the local industry,” Mr Catterall said.
