Lifeline for three tracks

A dramatic U-turn from the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) has seen three high-profile racing venues slated for closure, just six weeks ago, earn a reprieve.

But it could be short-lived.

West Auckland thoroughbred track Avondale was proposed for closure as was Dunedin’s Forbury Park trotting and greyhound tracks and Blenheim’s Waterlea Raceway.

RITA announced in mid-May a proposal to not allocate dates in its draft calendar to 14 venues for the 2020-2021 season that begins on August 1.

RITA, a reconstitution of the New Zealand Racing Board, was saved from insolvency by a $50 million taxpayer-funded bailout announced in May.

The significant changes to the racing calendar come following consultation with the three racing codes and their clubs.

Avondale has always been the hot topic of the proposal because the Avondale Jockey Club owns and manages a hugely valuable land asset in West Auckland that has been estimated at being worth as much as $300m.

Avondale has five dates for the new season in the calendar released yesterday but along with Forbury Park Trotting Club, which has been allocated 10 dates, the reprieve could be a short as 12 months.

Despite the significant changes to the draft calendar, released in mid-May, there are no fairytale reprieves for Gisborne, Orari, Stratford, Te Awamutu, Te Teko, Waikouaiti, Waimate, Waipukurau, Wairoa and Wyndham who have had their closures as race venues confirmed yesterday.

Roxburgh’s trotting track was spared in yesterday’s changes while Timaru’s Phar Lap Raceway, Manawatu¯ Raceway, Gore, Tauherenikau and O¯ taki have had their harness racing dates they were proposed to lose, reinstated.