There were no on-course bookies at Saturday’s metropolitan race meeting at Gawler, with SA Bookmakers League Chairman Warren Barrington said it is the result of an ongoing disagreement with the Club.
But the South Australian Bookmakers League hopes it can reach an agreement with the Gawler Barossa Jockey Club that will see on-course bookmakers return.
Bookies have been notably absent from race meetings at the track for some time and Barrington said it was due to the locations within the function centre and under the public pavilion that the Club is asking bookies to set up, which he claims aren’t conducive to operating a viable stand.
He said the Club had promised to invest in dedicated areas for bookmakers in high-traffic and user-friendly locations on course, however no action has taken place.
Barrington has called on the Gawler Barossa Racing Club committee to sit down with the SA Bookmakers League in a show of good faith and to arrive at terms that suit both parties.
“We haven’t fielded at that club for 12 months,” Barrington said.
“It (location the bookies were moved to in the function centre) wasn’t conducive to a bookmaking operation.”
“Reluctantly, we went along with it because the Chairman said quite clearly the club would spend $10,000 to make the area right for bookies.”
“Long story short, they haven’t spent one cent.”
“The Bookmakers League got together and we basically said that we’re not putting up with it.”
Gawler hosts 18 race meetings each season, including five Saturday metropolitan fixtures and its popular Friday twilight Cup program.
Up to five bookmakers field at Morphettville each Saturday, while two bookmakers take a stand at Saturday metropolitan meetings at Thomas Farms Racecourse Murray Bridge.
Race clubs receive 1% of all turnover generated by on-course bookmakers at their race meetings, while 2% of on-course turnover from fixed odds betting at TAB windows returns to the club, albeit race clubs must pay wages and travel for TAB operators to attend.
Gawler Barossa Jockey Club Chairman Ian Millen said he is open to continuing dialogue with SA Bookmakers League to reach a resolution that will see bookmakers return to field at the track.
He said the relocation of the bookies within the function centre was done to open up a congested thoroughfare and plans to renovate the new area to make it more user-friendly for bookies were abandoned once the cost to move electrical infrastructure became clear.
He said bookmakers also have access to a high-traffic area adjacent to the public pavilion.
“We’re open to dialogue but there is no point going over old ground,” Millen said.
“We’re not there to stop them fielding and I’m all for free enterprise but it’s got to work both ways.”
“The door is always open if they want to come back, that was my last conversation with Warren.”
“The positions that we have made available are still available, so it’s up to them if they want to field.”
