Victoria’s racing industry

Racing has a long and proud history in Victoria and the racing industry is significant to our state's economy and sporting culture.

Victoria has world-class racing and training facilities with the industry employing thousands of people in both metropolitan Melbourne and country Victoria. The industry remains an important economic driver for the state with race days such as the renowned Melbourne Cup Carnival and the broader Spring Racing Carnival driving tourism and boosting local businesses.

Racing in Victoria generates $4.7 billion for the Victorian economy and is directly responsible for sustaining 34,900 full time equivalent jobs. More than 121,000 people are directly employed, volunteer or participate in racing industry activities.

The Victorian Government is proud to support world-class race days and racing infrastructure across regional Victoria that helps build community engagement, supports charitable organisations, provides employment and improves the liveability of regional communities.

The Office of Racing within the Department of Justice and Community Safety is responsible for providing policy and legislative support to the Minister for Racing, delivery of the Government's racing agenda, minor licencing such as Calcutta Sweepstakes and mixed sports gatherings, licensing of race clubs and racecourses, and delivering the Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) program.

The Victorian Government, through the Office of Racing, works in partnership with Racing Victoria, Country Racing Victoria, Harness Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing Victoria to maintain and grow a strong and vibrant racing industry.

Animal welfare is a key concern of the racing industry, and strict codes of practice are overseen by Agriculture Victoria.

Strengths

• Racing is a major economic driver for Victoria, generating more than $4.3 billion annually and supporting more than 33,800 full time equivalent jobs across the state.
• More than 121,200 people are directly employed, volunteer or participate in racing industry activities.
• Victoria plays host to the annual Spring Racing Carnival, which includes the famous Melbourne Cup.

Victorian Racing Industry Fund

The Office of Racing is responsible for administering the VRIF. The fund provides grants for animal welfare initiatives, club infrastructure upgrades, breeding programs, integrity measures and race day attraction programs across Victoria.

The fund improves the quality and safety of racing and training infrastructure, particularly in regional Victoria. It improves public facilities at Victorian racing venues and provides ongoing support for breeding across the three racing codes. It also provides funding for projects that support the welfare of racing animals and supports the wellbeing of jockeys and trainers.

The Victorian Government has announced that $150,000 of the Victorian Racing Industry Fund program will allocated to provide bushfire-affected clubs up to $25,000 to bolster raceday attractions and entertainment for meetings held this year and encourage people to attend regional races and support local tourism.

Victorian Racing Industry Fund program guidelines

Integrity

Integrity is at the core of racing and the Victorian Government is supporting the industry to strengthen its integrity standards.

The Victorian Government has introduced new laws to bolster integrity standards by providing independent oversight and a robust disciplinary framework for the industry, which includes the recent establishment of two new bodies - the Victorian Racing Tribunal and the Victorian Racing Integrity Board.

Victorian Racing Tribunal

The Victorian Racing Tribunal hears and determines serious offence charges and a broad range of appeals relating to the imposition of penalties for offences against the rules of racing of the controlling bodies.

Victorian Racing Integrity Board

The Victorian Racing Integrity Board has a broad range of functions to strengthen the integrity of racing across all three racing codes including:

• endorsing annual integrity plans;
• providing recommendations in relation to integrity budgets;
• advising and making recommendations relating to integrity policies and licensing procedures; and
• reviewing proposed amendments to the various rules of racing that relate to integrity.

Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner

The Racing Integrity Commissioner is an independent statutory officer, appointed by the Governor in Council, under the Racing Act 1958 (Vic).

The Office of the Racing Integrity Commissionergathers information on integrity related issues regarding the Victorian Racing Industry, across the harness, greyhound and thoroughbred racing codes.