The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) will stand down the majority of its staff effective today until Friday 1 May ‘in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the sports, entertainment and events sector’.
In a statement, the Club says it has commenced activating a business-wide operational model to support its workforce during these uncertain times while also ensuring the sustainability of the VRC.
Whilst retaining a very small team to execute business-critical tasks, and reducing the Executive Team’s working week to three days with a reduction in their rate of pay, stood down staff are being encouraged to use annual and long service leave where they can.
An additional two weeks of annual leave will be advanced to staff should leave balances be exhausted. VRC Chief Executive Officer Neil Wilson said that although standing down staff is a difficult decision, it is necessary to ensure the sustainability and forward positioning of the Club through the current COVID-19 health crisis.
“This has been an incredibly difficult decision and one that will impact our entire team at the VRC,” Wilson said.
All staff will remain employees of the VRC and will be able to access their available annual leave and long-service leave entitlements as well as receiving other offers of support from the Club during this time. They will also continue to accrue both continuity of service and all leave entitlements during the stand down.
The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual ‘race that stops a nation’, the Melbourne Cup, which was first contested in 1861.
From its foundation in 1864 until 2001 the Victoria Racing Club was the responsible authority for the conduct of thoroughbred racing in the State of Victoria, Australia. Since 2001 this role has been managed by Racing Victoria Limited.
The VRC is managed by an unpaid committee, elected by club members.
In 1871 the Victorian Government appointed the VRC as trustees of a site of 352 acres (1.4 km²) of Crown Land, next to the Maribyrnong River, which became known as Flemington Racecourse.
The Victoria Racing Club hosts four race meetings at Flemington during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The Melbourne Cup is run on the first Tuesday in November, the Victoria Derby are held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, the VRC Oaks is on the Thursday following the Cup, and LKS MacKinnon Stakes is on the Saturday following the Oaks.
The VRC also hosts race meetings during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
