Interesting. I’m not familiar with what RSN was broadcasting overnight before now (I presume overnight racing) but I will be interested to compare RSN/SEN Track overnight with the Sky Racing simulcast on Sky Sports Radio tonight.
RSN were taking racing overnight before last night, though I’m not sure whether it was the international racing or just a loop of the days races.
For those interested the RSN Program Grid has been updated to reflect various changes.
Having not been too familiar with what RSN would take on Saturdays and Sundays, I’m unsure if there is major changes in the weekend mornings. However noting that Friday Night Lights and Saturday Night Trackside are programs that air on SENTrack. So sounds there might be some simulcasting there.
Also the late Sunday evening non-racing programs have been replaced.
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RSN/3UZ once featured a range of locally hosted formats during its time under industry ownership, from greyhound racing reviews to broader sports and entertainment chat — all built around live racing. Over time, this gave way to a streamlined overnight version of their standard Raceday format, with music or notable catch-up interviews filling the gaps between commitments. Eventually, this was replaced by the Sky Racing 1 simulcast from Sky Sports Radio — a model that will continue under SEN.
Last night, the station transitioned its evening racing coverage to digital, airing from 6pm to midnight as part of a special farewell. Live studio-hosted racing wrapped up just after 5pm, followed by a retrospective program that looked back on the station’s history, with a particular focus on its long-standing role in broadcasting racing.
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some of last night’s retrospective on RSN
YouTube: rubicon nz
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It seems that SEN Track in Canberra is about a second ahead of Sky Sports Radio. I’ve previously timed the delay between Sky Sports Radio Sydney and the regional relays at just under two seconds, but I’m surprised the regional SEN Track stations don’t have a similar delay.
The compression on SEN Track isn’t as aggressive either.
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Get On Spring – new racing breakfast show for RSN and SENTrack
Jason Richardson and Lizzie Jelfs will host (Get On Spring) from 6 to 8am on Fridays throughout October (commencing October 10), delivering expert analysis, entertainment and all the latest from the track during the biggest time of the year on the racing calendar. During Cup Week, starting Monday, November 3 through to Friday, November 7 they will be heard daily. On Melbourne Cup and Big Dance morning (Tuesday, November 4), the show will extend to a special three-hour broadcast from 6am to 9am, simulcast on SEN 1116am in Melbourne, as well as across Tasmania, Western Australia, and SEN’s sport stations.
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Just as a follow up to this, took a listen into the Friday Night Lights simulcast between RSN and SENTrack. It’s essentially in the SENTrack program style, with tipster chat and also audience engagement on the text line. It primarily only on the Victorian meetings, with the live race calls of those meetings.
It is quite a difference when compared to the regular RSN Raceday/Racenight coverage which also includes some interstate coverage.
TAB Radio 95.5 Bundaberg blank carrier tonight
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Sports Entertainment Group can say whatever they like about RSN, but the reality is that the station has lost its unique point of difference. The heavy reliance on simulcasting, the underwhelming Studio 6 setup, and the endless cross-promotion of SEN and Track have cheapened what was once a great station.
RSN used to thrive as a racing talkback station filled with banter, energy, and strong engagement—a format that SEN could have embraced, expanded, and enhanced. Near the end, RSN was essentially becoming Racing’s version of SEN 1116, with the potential to merge Track’s programs alongside RSN’s respected racing analysis and coverage. By doing so, Sports Entertainment Group could have created a genuine sister station to SEN, one dedicated to racing with its own distinct identity.
That would have shown a true commitment to a proper racing format. Instead, listeners are left with little more than direct audio feeds from Sky Racing and RDC, awkwardly patched through a poor-quality studio, leaving the station stripped of the character and vibrancy that once set it apart.
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I’m sure if it were up to SEG and not the former RSN listeners, they would’ve rebranded it to SENTrack.
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I don’t think that’s possible. Track’s lighter/‘banter’ focus is entirely different to RSN’s format such that any type of merger would alienate RSN’s listeners more than how the station has changed since SEN took over it.
What I meant by merging was that SEG could have migrated and integrated selected SEN Track programs into RSN’s schedule, positioning them within the RSN lineup as it once was, rather than maintaining the awkward simulcasting setup currently in place.
It makes little sense to continue operating a “bar/sports lounge”-style racing broadcast when you now control your former rival. Why not consolidate resources and focus on elevating the product into a premium racing brand instead?
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I get what you’re saying. I just disagree that SEN Track-type programming can be incorporated into RSN seamlessly given it’s format and audience.
Warren Huntly, who had been an integral part of RSN for 20 years, has died following a battle with cancer.
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I’ve been through Temora a few times this year and so far the local 87.6 Sky Racing transmitter has been completely dead every time. I’ve even stood receiving no carrier while staring at the antenna ACMA RRL indicates it should be emanating from. The nearby 87.6 in Cootmundra was fine when I went through a few weeks ago.
Interestingly, yesterday and today in Temora I’ve been able to pick up the 95.5 signal from the Wheel Of Fortune transmitter near Wagga which I haven’t been able to pick up here before today. It’s a little bit scratchy but coming through pretty well. Even the clock radio in the motel is able to pick it up if tuned carefully.
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Yes, up towards West Wyalong ROK FM Parkes and SKY Racing Wagga interfere with each other a lot.
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Further changes to racing radio
Steve Hewlett has announced on X he will wrap up on Queensland’s 4TAB and his Racing HQ show and podcast on Friday December 12. Instead 1008am (formerly 4IP) will hear the networked national Racing HQ program hosted by Dave Stanley via Sky Sports Radio.
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