Hunter Valley Highlighted at Sydney Royal

The Hunter Valley's history, heritage, importance and unique environment for breeding champion racehorses will be on display this year at Australia's largest annual event the Royal Easter Show.

Commencing on March 26 and running until 8 April, the Royal Easter Show attracts some 900,000 people each year, from Australia and many international destinations, to celebrate Australia's rural culture and traditions.

"The Hunter Valley is Australia's horse capital with a proud history spanning nearly 200 years. As the largest agricultural industry and employer in the Hunter Valley we are very proud to be promoting our industry and internationally renowned brand at this year's Royal Easter Show," President of the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Dr Cameron Collins said today.

The Hunter Valley's Thoroughbred breeding history and heritage and its unique environment will be promoted in an advertisement that will be regularlyscreened on the "Big Screen" taking pride of place in the main arena.

This is part of an ongoing program of education by the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association to build awareness of the significance of the Hunter Valley to our sporting heritage and the importance of our industry to the state and the entire nation.

"The first official thoroughbred race meeting was staged by Governor Macquarie in Hyde Park in 1810. As Australia's Horse Capital and the largest regional employer in the Hunter Valley, the Royal Easter Show in Sydney is the perfect place and opportunity to promote our heritage and brand," Dr Collins said.

On average visitors spend 8.2 hours at the Royal Easter Show. This year they will have many opportunities to learn about the Hunter's thoroughbred breeding industry and the unique environment in which we operate.

The thoroughbred breeding and racing industry employs over 50,000 people in NSW and over 230,000 people nationally (directly and indirectly). It injects over $5b to the national economy and over $2.6 billion to the NSW economy every year. One in two racehorses born in Australia every year are born in the Hunter Valley. It is undoubtedly an industry of state and national significance.

"Everyone in our business knows that the best horses come from the Hunter Valley. This year we will be sharing that message and imagery with all who visit the Royal Easter show.

"The level of attendance and interest in the Sydney Royal Easter Show demonstrates that rural Australia is thriving and supported as an important part of our culture. It is only fitting that the Hunter is a big part of that. We hope that all the visitors will look out for our promotional campaign, share our pride in all the Hunter Valley has to offer and log on to our website or join our facebook page to support our industry," Dr Collins said.

HTBA RElease