Mike Dillon: There's much to look forward to

So the racing season finishes tomorrow.

It's normally at this point we look back over the last 12 months.

For this one time, it's very important we look ahead rather than back.

There is much to look forward to.

Like the $11 million that will be injected into galloping stakemoney, $5 million into harness and $1 million for the doggies - and that's only part of the advantage package.

It cannot be over-emphasised how crucial increased stakes are right now.

Victorian racing has a sweetheart deal from heaven with the gaming industry that sees its industry receive A$60 million ($74.5 million) more than New South Wales, yet NSW has announced stakes increases for the new season and industry leaders are asking why Victoria has not.

Winston Peters may be upsetting some people at the moment, but the racing industry can only view him favourably.

He forcibly, yes forcibly, ensured racing was finally compensated for the massive inroads gaming has had on its turnover.

The additional $32 million a year is going to go a long way.

You only need to look at the Australian model to see how important that is.

South Australian racing is struggling.

The state has one gaming machine for every 106 citizens against Victoria's one per 220 of population.

SA racing receives next to nothing from gaming and Victoria's horse industry receives countless millions.

Western Australia's situation is even more pointed. Perth racing is currently outstripping the rest of Australia when judged against the relative base of two years ago.

It's no surprise that there are no gaming machines in WA outside the single Perth casino.

So for once in New Zealand we are somewhere near the top of the tree compared to other racing jurisdictions.

And we have never had a greater variety of stars to grace our racetracks.

Don't look back, focus on tomorrow's barrier trials at Te Teko and think about where Darci Brahna, Kristov and Shikoba might springboard to from there.

Then there's Seachange, Pentane, Gee I Jane, Baldessarini, Wahid, Xcellent and countless young improvers to fill the galloping headlines and Mainland Banner, Gotta Go Cullen and One Dream in harness.

This has to be a vintage season.