Retired calling great, industry figurehead, experienced board member and Melbourne Cup ambassador, Bryan Martin, delivered his take on the Victorian Racing Club after the weekend’s winter racing at Flemington.
Martin expressed strong views across the venue’s hospitality, ambience and lack of ”buzz” outside the owners’ enclosures to his Facebook page.
Given his standing in the sport and, as he points out, his experience across the world’s racecourses, he is eminently qualified to make comparisons.
He also intrinsically linked to the VRC as a Melbourne Cup ambassador and previously served 12 years as a chairman for the Racing Hall of Fame. He was of course instrumental in the establishment of Living Legends.
As an owner, he has also had three Melbourne Cup runners in the last six years and of course part-owned the legendary Fields of Omagh, who won two Cox Plates [which he also called of course].
A proud racing man, Martin posted that it with ”some sadness” he wrote his appraisal of Flemington on Saturday.
In fairness to the VRC, it was never going to be a day full of crowds, although 5,000 people still turned up on a cold and wet June day that fell on a long weekend.
Martin also noted the closure of some bars and food outlets on Saturday, something that has come about as the club looks to save money on quiet days.
But others could argue the VRC’s shortfalls follow the club apologising for sub-par customer service on Anzac Day, as well as complaints about the price of food and alcohol.
Martin, of course, called racing for 45 years, including 29 Melbourne Cups and 28 Cox Plates. He remains an active part of the sport through his own syndication business as well as corporate speaking engagements.
His post was made on his Facebook account over the weekend.
”Today I write with some sadness after being at Flemington today.
”We celebrated with a win with our BMRS syndicates and Moby Dick in the last, perfectly trained by Gavin Bedggood and given a great tactical ride by Jett Stanley.
”My sadness is that this once-great racecourse that I have been going to since my teens, a young punter betting underage, then graduating to my early twenties and landing a racecaller’s job and my dream here in 1972, and working through the ranks to get the chief caller’s role in the mid-eighties and be able to call 29 Melbourne Cups and hundreds of races here in Australia and in nine countries around the world, this once-great racecourse has lost its soul.
”I’ve travelled the world and seen the great racecourses and loved comparing our Flemington. It has ranked with the world’s finest and I’ve told people how great it is.
”Now it’s hollow and has little life outside the huddle of owners enjoying the thrill of the mounting yard and hopefully a win.
”Outside, this expansive racecourse is close to desolate. The buzz has gone. Many outlets for food and beverage are shut. The betting ring is empty, moved through winter to warmer surrounds. The problem there was the building of the new stand didn’t factor in how the rails should be built and it was a disaster.
”I fear for where we are as avid fans, punters, owners and general racegoers.
”The sport is struggling and I’m not sure those running it have any real idea of where we are going.
”50 years of skin in the game from nearly all angles. I pray for a great Spring, not only for the VRC but importantly for the sport I love.
”I manage syndicates with 105 horses in four countries. I attend meetings all over the state, interstate and in New Zealand.”
