$100,000 average stakes and a new track flagged in merger of Auckland and Counties

A proposal to merge the Auckland Racing Club and Counties Racing Club would see average stakes doubled to $100,000 and racing conducted at Ellerslie on a new international standard racetrack.

In revealing the plans today, Auckland Racing Club chairman Doug Alderslade and Counties Racing Club chairman Mark Chitty said the amalgamation of assets would see income doubled in five years and finance 10 races worth $500,000 each year and three annual races with a $1 million stake.

Talks are also continuing with Avondale Jockey Club officials on how they can be involved and its club members are due to discuss the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

While the proposal has not been finalised, and will now be opened for wider consultation, the chairmen describe the plan as an exciting development for the future of racing in the Auckland region.

“Our clubs need to focus on creating a vibrant and sustainable future for racing in the Auckland region that delivers for all industry participants.

“The status quo is simply not sustainable. While we must cherish our past, it is essential that we adapt and change as an industry for the betterment of all.

“There are real and achievable opportunities to significantly improve the financial returns for the industry and to have a new beginning for racing in our region.”

The proposal would see a new StrathAyr course built at Ellerslie, hopefully by 2022, similar to tracks at Moonee Valley in Melbourne and Kranji in Singapore, a surface capable of standing 40 plus meetings a year.

Pukekohe would be retained as a training centre but the opportunity would be there for increased income through the sale or development of unneeded land.

The potential benefits have been confirmed by independent analysis carried out by Deloitte which recommended the amalgamation proceed.

Auckland Racing Club CEO Paul Wilcox said the anticipated stakes would be a huge boost for the industry - “we could retain young people who could then see a future for racing in New Zealand.”

The proposal comes after nearly two years of negotiations between the Auckland clubs.

Avondale support

Sources say the Avondale Jockey Club acknowledges the need to join forces with a merged club and will be making a number of recommendations to its members tomorrow, to be voted on at the annual general meeting on November 26.

The track was originally slated for closure but was latterly granted five dates this season, predicted on it making progress on its future in the Auckland region.

Avondale failed to come to an agreement on a merger at a meeting of the three clubs in July, the sticking point being a sudden stop to racing at Avondale.

The Avondale club pointed to the model used in Sydney in 2011 where the Australian Jockey Club and Sydney Turf Club merged and the Canterbury Park track was transitioned out under a 10-year moratorium. The AJC believed an eight to 10 year transition was an appropriate swan song.

Among its recommendations now are:

* It wants to develop policies to allow the Avondale track to be used to the end of the 2025-26 season. It sees Avondale as a crucial venue to ensure that racing in Auckland continues while the new track is being built at Ellerslie.

* It seeks members’ support to create wealth by reducing Avondale’s racing footprint through the development, sale or lease of redundant land.

* It hopes to develop an asset sharing plan between the merged clubs whereby the Avondale site is ultimately to be closed.

Avondale seeks to secure its long term future as a racing club that races at Ellerslie, while still actively supporting a transition that would see racing at a single venue in Auckland.