2025 ARMA Conference Recap

The 2025 Australian Racecourse Managers Association (ARMA) Conference brought together racecourse managers, industry leaders and innovators to share knowledge and strengthen connections across the racing community. Steriline Racing was proud to once again exhibit as a sponsor, showcasing our latest technologies and supporting the ongoing focus on safety and performance in racing.

The Racecourse Tour

The conference commenced with a tour of a few Victorian venues: Flemington, Cranbourne Training Centre, Cranbourne Racecourse and Pakenham Racecourse. These visits provided valuable opportunities to engage directly with racecourse managers and to gain insights into the daily challenges and innovations shaping the industry.

Photo taken at Flemington Racecourse during the racecourse tour.

Exhibition & Product Showcase

In Steriline’s exhibitor stall, the Platinum Starting Gate model was a key highlight, showcasing:

• High-density padding for enhanced horse and jockey safety
• Wide-opening spring-lock back gates
• A safety step and grab handle for operators

We also presented our portable recall unit and advanced control box technology, both designed to deliver greater reliability, safety and operational efficiency.

Photo taken at Steriline Racing stall of the Platinum Starting Stall Model, Recall Unit and Control Box.

The Awards Night

The Awards Evening was held at the Flemington Racecourse Event Centre, providing an excellent opportunity to engage with industry leaders and celebrate achievements across the sector. Among the presentations was the Steriline Racing Scholarship, delivered in partnership with ARMA and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Steriline representatives, John Fargher (Managing Director) and Judy Graetz (Business Manager), were proud to present the 2025 Scholarship to Digby Nuthall, Racecourse Manager at Hawkesbury. To find out more, visit our blog post here.

The evening was also a chance to reconnect with previous scholarship winners and hear about their development and achievements since their international experiences. Moments like these highlight the value of the scholarship program in fostering growth, innovation and leadership within the racing industry.

Photo taken of 8 previous scholarship winners and this year’s winner, Digby Nuthall.

Pictured (from left to right): John Fargher (Steriline Racing), Adam Ayres, Liam O’Keeffe, Michael Wood, Mitchell Black, Judy Fargher (Steriline Racing), Chris Hurley, Jake Carlaw, Digby Nuthall, Travis Stevens and Tony Salisbury.

Steriline Team with the Iconic Melbourne Cup.

Practical Demonstration: Ben Burford’s presentation

Steriline Racing’s Travel Technician, Ben Burford, delivered a valuable live demonstration on our Platinum Starting Gate model during the conference. With over 20 years of experience at Steriline Racing, Ben has developed a great depth of knowledge. In 2025 alone, Ben has travelled to 12 countries, 7 states and territories, 43 cities and towns, and 65 racing clubs.

Ben’s session focused on practical techniques designed to help alleviate any panic on race days. Demonstrating how to safely and efficiently remove a front gate in an emergency, and emphasizing the importance of preparation and the need for spare parts to be readily available.

Ben also highlighted the significance of some overlooked components, such as front gate spigots and the spring hook positioning, demonstrating the correct installation process and the potential issues that may arise from incorrect installation. In addition, Ben provided a step-by-step demonstration on adjusting an unevenly closing back gate, giving delegates practical knowledge they can take back to their own racecourses.

This hands-on session reinforced the importance of preparation and proper maintenance, allowing for safer and smoother race days.

Ben Burford and John Fargher pictured with the Platinum Starting Gate Model.

2024 Scholarship Winner: Jake Carlaw’s presentation

On Friday afternoon, we were able to hear from the 2024 Scholarship winner, Jake Carlaw, from the Australian Turf Club and his experience earlier this year to the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Jake reflected on his core learnings from his time away and how returning from this trip with fresh perspectives has further shaped his career in turf management.

Jake Carlaw presenting the conference delegates.

Looking Forward

The ARMA Conference continues to be a cornerstone event for advancing the racing industry. Steriline Racing is committed to working alongside racecourse managers to deliver safer, innovative and reliable solutions for the future of racing.

We thank ARMA, the conference sponsors and all the delegates who visited our stand. It was great to engage with you all.