Racehorse TALK

Racing: No intention to close tracks, says Sargent
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Thu, 3 Jun 2010
Racing
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has no plans to implement a secret report that recommends the closure of 17 racecourses, its chairman, Guy Sargent, says.

He was commenting after Radio New Zealand said it had documents, drafted in February last year, that listed 17 courses that could be sold, with the money received used to fund improvements at other venues.

The courses were an unnamed Auckland track, Dargaville, Paeroa, Te Teko, Wairoa, Waipukurau, Woodville, Hawera, Waverley, Reefton, Hokitika, Ashburton or Timaru, Waimate, Omakau or Kurow, Waikouaiti, Winton or Gore, and Wyndham.

However, Sargent said the board had no intention of adopting the recommendation from NZTR management and it had been shelved.

"Let's just get this clear, we are not looking to close tracks," he told RNZ.

Small clubs, which were mostly the target of the recommendation, are reportedly angry at not being consulted about it. They feel they are propping up the major clubs.

Auckland's Avondale Jockey Club last week said financial problems had led it to suspend racing on its course for the new season starting in August.


Hmm..........this could warrant watching