Pepper worried about rising costs in Canberra racing scene

[Wandering Eyes]

Former Canberra trainer Luke Pepper believes his stable can get plenty of winners in Scone, but he’s worried about how soaring compensation fees will affect racing in the nation’s capital.

Luke Pepper prefers to see the glass half-full and is excited he made the move to Scone, but he’s worried about the future of racing in Canberra.

Soaring workers’ compensation costs left Pepper with no alternative but to move to a venue fast becoming the envy of all country NSW racecourses.

The former trackwork rider for the great Takeover Target is set to thrive in the Upper Hunter Shire region, taking up 17 boxes for his stable on-course.

But he has grave concerns about the future of his peers in the nation’s capital who are facing heavy financial and social pressures to continue doing what they love.

Adding to the collective financial strain they are under, this week the ACT Greens called for an end to public funding to horse racing in Canberra.

Instead, the ACT Greens want those funds to be re-allocated towards climate change, COVID and homelessness.

With over 250 total winners to his name, Pepper is still only 41 and believes his move to the competitive country racing scene in Scone will see his career progression continue.

But he now has big concerns for the Canberra racing industry.

“The biggest reason of all (for relocating to Scone) was the workers’ compensation. We’re not insured by Racing NSW, and there’s only one company that can insure us,” Pepper told HorseBetting.com.au.

“And the fees are astronomical compared to what people in NSW are paying. That was the big factor in moving out of Canberra.

“As with any business, it’s never easy when the government’s not on your side – even though racing down there does provide a helluva lot of money to the government.

“There’s (financial and social) pressure coming from everywhere in Canberra at the moment.

“There are a lot of good people and really good trainers down there, and the livelihoods of a lot of people depend on that racecourse.

“I hope it can stand up and keep going for everyone involved there. But we had the opportunity to move – me and my partner Tahnee made the big decision to do it.”

Specifically, for the trainers who are struggling to oversee regular winners in Canberra, Pepper now worries those people – along with their staff – could be lost to the sport.

“It’s affecting everyone and it’s very hard. The club (Thoroughbred Park) is trying to do its best. But at the end of the day it is what it is,” he said.

“Everybody’s under the pump there trying to survive. It’s hard enough as it is – with the way racing’s going – to win races.

“We were paying four to five times more than what a NSW trainer in our same position would be paying (in compensation fees).

“So you’ve got to keep your staff to a minimum. It just makes it very hard all-round.

“NSW Racing is flying in front of us (with its prizemoney offerings), and we saw that we had to cling on the back of it and keep going with it.”

Pepper is now looking forward to his future in Scone.

“We did a lot of research and looked at a lot of places, and Scone topped everything with the way they’re going and what they’re doing up here,” he said.

“It’s going to be the epicentre of country racing in NSW. We really wanted to get here, and lucky enough we were able to pick up some boxes and we made the move.

“It was a pretty big move, and I don’t really want to move again. We’re starting fresh up here and it’ll take a bit of time for us to get our wheels on the ground.

“But we’d like to think we can improve our stable, and give our clients the best opportunities in NSW racing.”

Pepper has taken a competitive team of horses with him.

He knows his upcoming assignments won’t be easy, but he believes the good facilities will help him relish his fresh start.

“We’ve got 17 boxes on-course. It’s a really nice set-up. It’s very laidback up here and very quiet,” he said.

“You’ve got some really strong trainers there. We’ve got to compete against that, but we’re willing to do the hard work.

“It’s a fantastic track and I’m really impressed with what the club is planning on doing there in the way of synthetic tracks which will go in.

“It’s got everything you need there, and you’ve only got to look at the results coming out of the Scone with the trainers who are already there.

“We’ll let all the horses settle in a bit first. I’ve got my first runner (Zounique) on Saturday at Newcastle. He’s deep into a prep and a lovely old horse.

“We haven’t earmarked anything (feature races) as of yet. We’re just letting everything settle in, and we’re getting all our horses settled and we’re looking forward after that.”

The ACT Government and Thoroughbred Park were contacted for comment.

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