Harness Racing Australia is about to announce a new slots-type race on the Australian Harness Racing calendar . . . and tipped to be named ‘The Eureka’.

Without knowing the reason that HRA may have chosen such a name, it does remind us all of the 1854 event in Australian history called the Eureka Stockade. The event or rebellion against authorities of the time was both bloody and historic and was all about taxes being enforced on miners of the day in the Ballarat region of Victoria.

History has documented that this event is identified with the Birth of Democracy in Australia.

The word Democracy is of Greek origin derived from Demos meaning “the people“ and Kratos meaning “to rule“.

Australia is often regarded as “The Lucky Country“ and having a democratic system of government has paved the way for where Australia is today.

However it appears that Harness Racing Australia doesn’t know what the word democracy means. They are signalling that a tax or levy on stallion service fees be introduced as a means of helping to fund the $2million slots race.

The people, being the stallion and broodmare owners and breeders of the Australian harness racing industry, have condemned such an idea in no uncertain manner.

Governing Bodies in a democracy should be transparent, responsive and accountable – does this ring true of HRA?

There have been some positive signs in the breeding industry in Australia over the past couple of seasons but what impact is taxing service fees likely to have on stallion and broodmare owners?

The various breeding bodies around Australia are of the strong opinion that a tax or levy on service fees will be passed on to the broodmare owners in one form or another and is totally unacceptable. On the 10^th May last year a letter [click here to read] was sent to the CEO and Executive Committee of HRA condemning the implementation of a tax or levy on service fees and signed by eleven [11] of the leading studs, stallion owners and semen importers in the Southern Hemisphere. The letter also requested a meeting with the CEO and the Executive – no such meeting ever took place.

Furthermore the Chairman of HRA, Mr Graeme Campbell, announced in a Press Release in June 2021 that Forums would be conducted in the remainder of 2021 to allow industry participants to discuss ideas of fund raising including the proposed Stallion Tax – No such Forums ever took place.

In a democratic Country, HRA, you the governing Body should be responsive and accountable to the participants of Harness Racing.

These are the people who make up the Executive Committee of HRA – these are the people who do Not consult or listen to its participants:

Graeme Campbell – Chairman of HRA [a resident of NSW]

Ken Brown – Chairman of HRNSW

Dale Montieth – Chairman of HRV.

Jodie Jones – Representing Racing Queensland.

Neil Grose – Representing Tasracing Pty Ltd.

Emma Grigson – Chairperson of HRSA.

Bob Fowler – Board Member of Racing and Wagering WA.

The proposed slots race, be it called The Eureka or any other name, may stimulate some media attention in the few weeks leading up to it. However it won’t make breeders acquire and breed more broodmares, it wont attract a whole range of new buyers or owners to our Industry just because one race amongst thousands has a seven-figure stake and it won’t create a massive upsurge on the day to day betting turnover on harness racing.

So why should the industry participants be ordered to assist funding it?

HRA, show some true democratic leadership and pay respect to your citizens – the thousands of participants of the harness racing industry in Australia.