$10m for synthetic track
Palmerston North’s Awapuni Racecourse is set to become one of New Zealand’s premier race venues thanks to a multi-milliondollar injection from the Government for a synthetic track.
Racing Minister Winston Peters announced yesterday a $72.5 million racing industry Covid-19 emergency support package, which includes $20m for all-weather tracks at Awapuni and Riccarton in Christchurch.
Construction of a third synthetic track at Cambridge is already under way.
The Race group runs racing at Awapuni and Trentham in Wellington and chief executive Al Robertson said the new Palmerston North track, which will be built on the inside of the existing main track, will cost $13m, with $10m from the Government and the rest from Race.
‘‘We were always confident the deputy prime minister [Peters] was going to support us in some manner and we’re thrilled he’s done it in such a timely manner with the Covid-19 situation,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘It’s a brilliant step forward. ‘‘It’s very exciting and gives a whole heap of people real hope for the future. It has certainly consolidated Palmerston North as one of the three premier centres
in the country.’’
Work on the new track is not expected to affect racing on the grass track.
Robertson hoped to get into the design stage soon and wanted work to be ready to go as quickly as possible.
‘‘There will be a significant amount of employment and downstream employment, which gives us the ability to grow the training centre from around 200 horses in work a year to maybe double that.
‘‘The downstream economic impact in Palmerston North will be very significant. We worked it out to be a total of $25m a year in the Palmerston North economy.
‘‘It’s a big gig. I’d say a minimum of 50 [extra] fulltime jobs, plus casuals.’’
Awapuni holds 18 race meetings a year, but Robertson said with the synthetic track the course would be able to cater for more horses, more training and possibly more than 30 race meetings a year.
Awapuni is home to the Marton, Rangitı¯kei, Feilding and Manawatu¯ racing clubs and Robertson said there would be room at the Palmerston North course for every club.
Central Districts Trainers’ Association president Gary Vile said the announcement gave certainty to the racing industry.
He said the racing sector had to back Peters’ decision and he believed the new track would benefit the region.
‘‘I would say there would be an increase in numbers in the three areas that have synthetic tracks. Horses are going to have to work on them to be able to adjust to race on them... It’s great to see some relief for the industry.’’
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said the racing industry had always signalled Awapuni as a strategic venue and the funding cemented the course as one of the big three,
‘‘The industry employs hundreds of people in the city. You go past horse numbers and jockeys and there’s trainers, stable hands, everything from TAB TV right through to float drivers, the Massey equine centre, vets and grain and seed.’’
Peters said synthetic tracks reduced the number of meetings cancelled by bad weather or poor surfaces.
‘‘In other words, synthetic tracks offer consistency and reliability. Synthetic tracks sustain a higher workload for both training and racing.
‘‘There are fewer abandoned race days. That translates to retaining income not losing it. And they’re safer for the horse.’’