Racing clubs urged to consolidate

From page 1. Featuring a 2400m turf track and 2000m synthetic all weather track, it has light towers enabling night racing horse stalls with a capacity to hold 140 horses and a 60ha (150 acre) trainer allotment precinct.

It was the first track to be built in Australia in 40 years and according to its CEO Michael Hodge, the club held 48 race meetings last season and is looking to extend to 50 this season.

‘‘We have sold 34 trainer allotments guaranteeing the venues future as a major tier 1 training centre with up to 800 horses potentially being stabled on course over the next decade,’’ said Hodge.

The Victoria State Government was supportive of the project ‘‘because of the hundreds of jobs it could create’’ said Premier Dr Denis Napthine.

Waikato Racing Club general manager Ken Rutherford thinks the idea of a super facility could benefit the Waikato region’s racing industry.

‘‘The idea has been talked about for years but one of the clubs is going to have to take the lead,’’ he said.

Waipa Racing Club CEO Leigh Grylls couldn’t imagine a track which would handle racing all year round because of seasonal climatic changes.

‘‘Trainers have infrastructure in place around all the tracks at the moment, and there are not enough tracks now to deal with the need for training trials,’’ Grylls said.

Matamata Racing Club chairman Dennis Ryan is aware of the suggestion of a super track but his committee is not interested as it has recently invested in track and facilities.

Already embracing the centralisation model is the Cambridge Jockey Club which holds two race meetings each year at Te Rapa, and agree the idea is sound in theory.

‘‘A similar idea has been discussed at committee level but agreement and application would require input from the sport’s governing body the New Zealand Thoroughbred Industry,’’ said Cambridge Jockey Club CEO Gayle Barkla.

She felt it would ‘‘not be appro- priate’’ to comment on the possible location of a facility.

The club is looking to an upgrade of its training surfaces and is investigating the idea of a covered training track. Last season Cambridge Jockey Club boasted 541 winners from the 1200 horses which used its facilities.