If State of Origin existed in horse racing, Tasmania’s representatives would probably finish 20 lengths behind any horse from the mainland – and the gap is widening.
We often joke about Tasmania’s inclusion as a state of Australia, but over the next few years it could be the biggest growth region for professional sport in Australia.
Horse racing in the state, however, is stagnant, and there has been little improvement over the past few years despite Tasmania having at least two race meets each week.
Summer is the highlight of Tasmanian racing, with the state’s three biggest races held in February: the Group 3 Bow Mistress Trophy (1200m) worth $150,000 for fillies and mares under weight-for-age conditions, the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2200m) worth $225,000 under open handicap conditions, and the Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) – also worth $225,000 under open handicap conditions.
If Tasmania ever want their racing program to integrate wider into other Australian states, their best races need to be higher than Group 3 level.
Compare them to Western Australia, where there are three Group 1 races, South Australia with four and Queensland with eight, and it’s almost as if Tasmania is irrelevant to Australian racing.
The quality of Hobart and Launceston Cup winners has been very mediocre over the past few years with the exception of 2009 Launceston Cup winner Zavite, who went on to become a regular Group 1 performer on the mainland.
Over the next ten years, it is probable that Tasmania will get their own AFL team and A-League team.
Both leagues have played games in the island state and both have achieved excellent crowds.
On top of that, Tasmanian cricket has been the state’s strongest sport and they are consistently competitive against the mainland states, proving they have the population to develop professional talent.
The timing of Tasmania’s carnival on the racing calendar is very good because it is before the Sydney autumn carnival, and Melbourne’s autumn carnival does not focus on staying handicaps.
As the only state not to have any Group 1 racing, Tasmania will get left behind if the Pattern Committee continually overlook them in favour of upgrading Victorian and New South Wales country cups.
We are rarely seeing Tasmanian trained horses travelling to Melbourne or Sydney, which starkly contrasts with South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.
If the quality of Tasmanian horses is to rise, they need race upgrades and further prize money injections.
With so few adequate staying handicaps during autumn on offer in Melbourne and Sydney, Tasmania has the potential to become a vitalised breeding ground for stayers.
Considering Tasmanian racing is yet to be overrun by sprint races, breeding and training stayers is still in the best interest of locals. Because of this, a Tasmanian summer campaign could be used as an option for Melbourne horses being set for the Melbourne or Caulfield Cup.
While it could help to introduce some sort of Melbourne Cup exemption (similar to the Listed Mornington Cup) for any horse that can win both Tasmanian Cups in the same season, different state regulators means it would be unlikely.
While Tasmania comparatively struggle overall against the other states, there is plenty of room for improvement. To develop their system, they should focus on one aspect of racing.
With a racing calendar already in place that rewards stayers rather than sprinters, they should be able to specialise in that area and progress their horses towards the Melbourne spring.
Professional sport in Tasmania is on the rise, but the racing industry is only plodding.
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