Save Italian racing

Form the racingpost website



Italy: A series of strikes in response to funding cuts have crippled racing, preventing any meetings from taking place in the country this year.

The recent strikes, by all areas of the racing industry, are in protest at the dire state of the sport's finances.

All racecourses on mainland Italy have been closed, prompting strike action by judges, starters and racing officials, while representatives of breeders, trainers and owners are staging a sit-in at the governing body's headquarters in Rome - and plan to stay there until January 12.

Frankie Dettori recently highlighted the severity of the situation, wearing Italy's national football shirt with ‘Save Italian Racing' emblazoned on the front when representing the nation in a jockeys' event in Hong Kong last month.

He said: "Italian racing is in serious trouble and I want to help my country to ride out the crisis. All the Italian racing people will have to work together as hard as they can."

Last month Francesco Ruffo, secretary-general of ASSI, racing's governing body, announced that in 2012 racecourses would receive just €61 million, approximately €40m less than last year.

This drop in budget, plus the declining income from betting turnover, has resulted in a 40 per cent cut to all prize-money for 2012.

Ruffo said: "By not signing contracts agreeing to the cuts, racecourses cannot obtain a public safety licence to stage racemeetings."

A meeting between representatives of the racing industry and the Italian government to find a solution to the problem is scheduled for January 13.

Protesters claim ASSI are planning further cuts andon Tuesday about 200 of them broke into the offices of UnireTV and removed equipment and cabling to prevent the broadcasting of foreign racing.

It has been reported that one of the racing station's presenters was assaulted amid the protest.

I quite like this bit..."about 200 of them broke into the offices of UnireTV and removed equipment and cabling to prevent the broadcasting of foreign racing. "...... perhaps we should take a leaf out of their book. As regards racing here, I listen to the UK racing on Sportingliveradio in the afternoons, and after Il Tanga won they were receiving tweets about the South African racing results and the fact that there is never an enquiry into in and out running....

That seems like the end of Italian racing, apparently Italian racing club losses are too big therefore they can not operate.

call out the longshoremen - You know things are bad when the mob can't be bothered keeping racing going

Maybe with a bit luck Ngong next?

I hear the Mafia were offered Turffontein racetrack but saw more value in buying the dumpsite next door

And we thought we were in sh*t! A 40% stakes decrease is monstrous, especially as the stakes were not great to start off with.

What are the French doing that is so right?

Oh, an Il Tanga was coming down big time in class and was my second choice. In fact, if you'd taken my 2nd selections in a straight line Jackpot you would have collected. I have to say that is not a good example of so-called in and out running, but that's just my 5c worth.

A few years back I did rides for a visiting Italian Jockey Luka Sorrrentino, had any amount of ability but a shocking attitude rode a bit for Mr Ferraris but clash of personality saw that come to an abrupt end Luka returned to Italy never to be heard from again

Yes, Sorrentino has disappeared off the radar in Italy, too. Probably retired, or riding in Estonia or somewhere.

anyone know where marco latorre is ?

pirates Wrote:

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> anyone know where marco latorre is ?


Marco riding in brazil

scotia Wrote:

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> Maybe with a bit luck Ngong next?

Then chariot and turkey and im happy