Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys gets a turn in the hot seat
Bryan: Peter, thanks for your time. You wanted to put up some huge flags and banners on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to promote The Everest but the government’s knocked you back?
PVL: Yes, Bryan. It’s very disappointing. They would have been seen all over the world, maybe even from the moon.
Bryan: There’s nobody on the moon, Peter.
PVL: You know what I mean. It would have been huge, you might have been able to see the banners from the moon like the Great Wall of China.
Bryan: That’s a myth, Peter. You can’t see the Great Wall of China from the moon.
PVL: I know that, Bryan. I’m just emphasising how big The Everest has become and how big its promotion should be.
Bryan: Surely you understand that your idea could disrupt traffic even in the process of setting up this display?
PVL: It’d be minor, Bryan. Maybe the odd low impact collision here and there but my cousin Achilles has a panel shop so if you give Racing New South Wales a favourable mention, he’ll
look after you.
Bryan: Ah, a bit like how some allege you deal with the racing media in New South Wales?
PVL: That’s not true, Bryan. The media’s free to to write what they like.
Bryan: That’s not what Kate McClymont wrote a little while ago. She said Fairfax Media had obtained the editorial policy which Racing NSW negotiated with Sky Racing and that dictated Sky employees to depict the racing industry “in a positive manner” and “not to be disparaging, critical or negative of Racing NSW”.
PVL: That’s just a guideline Bryan; an encouragement, not a directive. And besides, there’s nothing to criticise. And what’s it got to do with the print media?
Bryan: Well some of them have extra work with Sky, Peter.
PVL: Well, that’s Sky’s call.
Bryan: Back to the Bridge. So, a bit like the bloke knocked back for a dance; your idea of a race over the Harbour Bridge looks out of the question then?
PVL: Looks that way, we just don’t have a ‘can do’ government up here.
Bryan: Unlike in Victoria?
PVL: Yes, Bryan.
Bryan: Peter, you’re Greek aren’t you? Born on Kythera? So, why do you keep criticising the world’s third biggest Greek city?
PVL: Which city’s that, Bryan?
Bryan: Melbourne.
PVL: Oh, don’t be silly. I’ve acknowledged that it’s the major events and sporting capital of the country.
Bryan: But you called the Yarra River ‘smelly and dreary’ didn’t you?
PVL: Well, it’s not the Harbour is it Bryan.
Bryan: And you’re not happy about loads of New South Welshmen going to the Melbourne Cup. You said 36 per cent of the Melbourne Cup audience is from Sydney. Maybe you could
build a wall along the Murray.
PVL: Not a bad idea, Bryan. Get the Mexicans (Victorians) to build it.
Bryan: What about the small field sizes in Sydney, Peter. Don’t you consult the trainers on programming?
PVL: Of course we do, consult them on all sorts of matters.
Bryan: Do you implement their suggestions?
PVL: Only if I agree with them, Bryan. I’m the boss, so it would be illogical to implement something I didn’t agree with.
Bryan: Illogical indeed. Like the majority of your recent $26 million prize-money hike going to the owners of horses who finish fourth to tenth. Isn’t that rewarding failure?
PVL: You have to understand Sydney racing, Bryan. Chris (Waller) and Sheikh Mohammed have all the winners so we’ve got to spread the money further back.
Bryan: Can you tell us about your plan to completely overtake racing in the spring?
PVL: That’s confidential.
Bryan: So, you don’t actually have a plan yet?
PVL: Of course we have a plan. Our plan is that nothing’s off the table.
Bryan: The Everest was a smashing success last year even though it’s hard to imagine a worse bet than having $600,000 on to collect around four times that if the slot holder is splitting the prize-money with the horse owner?
PVL: It’s been been credited with injecting $100 million in economic benefit to New South Wales in its inaugural year.
Bryan: According to KPMG or PWC or the state treasury?
PVL: No Bryan, the Daily Telegraph.
Bryan: Still only a quarter of the economic impact generated by the Melbourne Cup carnival.
PVL: That’s because of all the money spent by people from New South Wales. I told you that.
Bryan: Michael Browell, from Moonee Valley, and a few other Victorian officials aren’t too happy with you at the moment?
PVL: Doesn’t bother me, Bryan. I’m only here to please my constituents and Mr Browell might want to be thankful for a certain New South Wales horse called Winx.
Bryan: Thank you Peter. Good luck with The Everest.