SYDNEY - The organisers of World Youth Day (WYD) say the permanent economic benefits of holding next year's Papal mass at Randwick Racecourse will offset the losses incurred by trainers who will be forced off the track.
Racing will cease at Randwick for 10 weeks and although trainers have been told they can remain there for most of that time, they say it is unrealistic.
The Randwick course proper is expected to suffer major damage from foot traffic and will need remedial work after the event.
WYD Chief Operating Officer Danny Casey and newly-elected Australian Jockey Club (AJC) Chairman Ross Smyth-Kirk presented a united front at a news conference today to deny reports the event would not go ahead.
Mr Casey met a delegation of trainers last week and said he would do so again in the coming weeks to ensure their concerns were met, but he could not put a figure on what would be adequate compensation.
"We are aware that hosting a World Youth Day here was always going to create challenges and we are committed to dealing with them," Mr Casey said.
"This will be the site where the Holy Father will come to gather with the young people of the world.
"We are committed to minimising any disruption but it is too early to speculate on compensation. There is no figure on the table at present.
"The legacy to the club and the industry will come via the infrastructure which will be put in place for the event such as upgraded power and water supplies.
"The AJC also has a master plan in place for improvements to Randwick and this may be an opportunity to help with those."
However, Anthony Cummings, President of the Randwick Trainers' Association, said after the meeting with Mr Casey he did not believe organisers were aware of the long-term implications.
"We have been told there is an opportunity for horses to stay here but that is just not viable," he said.
"The place will be a building site and raises insurance issues.
"We are entrusted with the care and wellbeing of very valuable horses and it is not industry best practice to be training them on a building site.
"Then there is the argument of who would be liable if an accident occurred.
"We could work the horses in Pitt Street but would it be a good place to be?"
Mr Cummings has already made arrangements to move his horses to Warwick Farm while other trainers are considering Queensland and country NSW areas.
"The horses will still be in work but somewhere else," Mr Cummings said.
"But the thing is that once they go, they don't all return.
"If we lose 20 per cent of the spring carnival horses, then it will be a pretty ordinary carnival."
Mr Smyth-Kirk said reports a deadline to sign a heads of agreement with the State Government had passed were incorrect and he believed the event would go ahead.
"I think it's too far down the line (to change) but that's not for me to guarantee," he said.
"Negotiations are ongoing but we believe this is what will happen."
Acting NSW Premier John Watkins said the negotiations were going well and he expected an agreement to be finalised in the next few weeks.
Royal Randwick has hosted two previous Papal masses and is the best location among 15 alternatives in Sydney that were considered, he said.
"We do have to make arrangements to ensure that after World Youth Day is complete that Randwick goes back to the racing fraternity and the people of Sydney in tip-top condition," Mr Watkins said.
He said WYD would attract around 120,000 overseas visitors and generate approximately $150 million in revenue from international and interstate visitors.
The week-long event will be held in July, culminating in a Sunday mass with between 450,000 and 600,000 people expected to attend.
Mr Casey said the overflow from the racecourse would be accommodated in nearby Centennial Park.
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