Super club set to be game changer

RACING

WELLINGTON: Thoroughbred racing in the Auckland region is set for a major shot in the arm if a proposed merger between the Auckland Racing Club and the Counties Racing Club comes to fruition.

And the welcome mat is well and truly being rolled out to the Avondale Jockey Club to join the strategic partnership, in a bid to enable the development of a worldclass venue at Ellerslie that would showcase racing in the Auckland region at its finest.

With initial details released yesterday by the Auckland and Counties Clubs in a joint statement, it is anticipated the merger and use of the two clubs’ collective assets will enable them to more than double their income over five years.

This will facilitate average stake levels per race to double from $50,000 to $100,000, while Ellerslie would be set for a major overhaul involving the installation of a new StrathAyr surface which would be used on at least 40 race days per year.

Discussions are continuing with the Avondale Jockey Club to explore wider options as to its role in the future of racing in the Auckland region, with the other two Auckland clubs keen to have them in the fold.

The Avondale JC will be making recommendations to its members today, to be voted on at the annual meeting on November 26.

In a joint letter to members, Auckland RC chairman Doug Alderslade and Counties RC chairman Mark Chitty said the proposal was not finalised, and would now be opened for wider consultation.

While prize money will be bolstered across the board at Ellerslie, which beyond an interim construction period will work towards becoming the Auckland region’s sole racecourse, there will also be 10 races worth $500,000 and three races worth $1 million.

Counties RC chairman Mark Chitty welcomed the announcement and said the joint venture was a must in order to ensure the future of racing in the Auckland region.

“From a Counties point of view, we were going to struggle to do that [achieve those goals] on our own. Our financial sustainability could be seriously questioned.

“We have got surplus assets to what we require for racing and we have got a plan change that has gone through, but it is about doing the right thing for the industry.

The clubs commissioned Deloittes to analyse the business case and the report outlined that it believes the amalgamation would create a club with the financial strength and facilities to meet the objectives that the clubs are looking to achieve.

Chitty said that the project was still in the proposal stage and each club would be meeting with its members over the coming weeks to present them with the proposal.

“We are hopefully looking for things to be progressing within the next 12 months.”

Chitty also said that while some Counties members might not like going into the city to watch racing at Ellerslie they needed to realise that the proposed change was for the benefit of racing and ensuring its survival in the region.

While Pukekohe may no longer host race meetings under the new proposal, Chitty said the establishment of a training facility near the township was a major talking point. — NZ Racing Desk

❛ We are hopefully looking for things to be progressing within the next 12 months