THE Pope's visit to Sydney next year has been clouded by reports the Papal mass at Randwick racecourse is at risk of not going ahead.The chairman of the Australian Jockey Club (AJC), which runs horse racing at the Royal Randwick, has baulked at signing an agreement to make the track available for the mass, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Horse trainers are demanding compensation for when the racecourse is shut down for at least 10 weeks from June 14 next year in order to hold the event for 300,000 worshippers.
AJC chairman Ross Smyth-Kirk told the newspaper he had not given up hope the event could be staged elsewhere.
Asked if it was possible to move the event away from Royal Randwick, he told the newspaper: “In theory 'Yes', in practice 'Probably not'.”
“We are going to explore all our options and ask the (state) government to do the same,” Mr Smyth-Kirk said.
“At least there must be compensation paid to Randwick trainers who may have to move their business to another racetrack for up to three months.”
A spokesman for World Youth Day 2008 said: “All the parties involved are committed to World Youth Day happening at Randwick.”
“We're all working together to resolve the planning issues associated with hosting the event,” he said.
“When those discussions are finalised, we'll work together to settle an agreement.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce