Avondale

[pete]

Doesn't really say much.

NZTR and Avondale Jockey Club Endorse Memorandum of Understanding

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) would like to provide an update on recent developments concerning the Avondale Jockey Club (AJC) and the future of the Avondale racetrack.

In recent months, NZTR and AJC have been working together to discuss the future of the Avondale racecourse once racing concludes at the venue after the 2025/26 season.  On 16 September 2024 NZTR and AJC signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines shared intentions and the collaborative process both parties will follow in the coming months to attempt to finalise an agreement on the future of the racecourse.

“NZTR and AJC have worked together in good faith to reach an agreement on the future of the Club’s racecourse.” – Bruce Sharrock, CEO NZTR

“We are pleased with the progress throughout our conversations as we work to mutually agree on the pathway forward.”

Avondale Jockey Club will host a members-only forum 21 October to discuss the MOU with their membership, alongside NZTR representatives, and will answer any questions concerning the process at that time.

NZTR would like to thank AJC as we work toward the best outcome for the Club, West Auckland and broader racing communities.

[Hesi]

Agree, says very little

[Buller Rep]

9 hours ago, Hesi said:

Agree, says very little

For my threepence worth, after what Bruce said on the Guerin Report it was a massive letdown, simply continuing along the lines of everything else coming out of NZTR these days, especially after last weeks cock-up.

[Hesi]

Perhaps that is the reason why he is leaving, unable to make things happen.  A 'vague' memorandum of understanding, 6 years after Messara, and his recommendation was quite specific, 48 tracks to 28, with the money generated used to bring the remaining 28 up to standard.

Not that Te Rapa/Cambridge/Waipa are much better with their MoU.  At the current rate it will be lucky if anything materialises inside 10 years zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  And as you have suggested in the past, at that level, it is suggested from further up the chain that maybe a good idea to move on, you will be looked after etc etc.

Entain must have had a say in the matter.  They are not underwriting NZ racing for the next 5 years with hundreds of millions of dollars, to see ongoing meeting abandonments due to poor tracks continue

[Buller Rep]

As far as a greenfields racecourse in the Waikato is concerned, it isn’t going to happen because it can’t. Whatever they could realise from the sale of the three courses wouldn’t be enough to buy a large enough piece of land and then develop it. 
As an example didn’t they spend $50 million plus on the StrathAyr Track at Ellerslie and $10 on each of the three AWT’s.
See what I mean? The tracks themselves would churn through the money in no time at all and then there would be nothing else left for us, let alone the key players in the industry. 

 

[curious]

9 hours ago, Buller Rep said:

As far as a greenfields racecourse in the Waikato is concerned, it isn’t going to happen because it can’t. Whatever they could realise from the sale of the three courses wouldn’t be enough to buy a large enough piece of land and then develop it.
 

Messara reckoned it would?

[Buller Rep]

10 hours ago, curious said:

Messara reckoned it would?

Did he?
Unfortunately most of what he wrote regarding the NZ courses’ was what the NZTB personal suggested was the way to go and he followed suit. Surely even you know that?

 

 

[curious]

7 minutes ago, Buller Rep said:

Did he?
Unfortunately most of what he wrote regarding the NZ courses’ was what the NZTB personal suggested was the way to go and he followed suit. Surely even you know that?

His estimate was 110m based on Pakenham cost of 100m.

We believe that the cost of a Waikato Greenfields site could be covered
by the sale of Cambridge (then both a racing and training venue), Te
Rapa and Te Awamutu racecourses

[Buller Rep]

After spending $55 million on the track (main course) there’s only $45 million left to build a grandstand, office, implement sheds, training tracks, stables, tie ups and the myriad of other things necessary. 
Curious, are you suggesting that it can be done for $100 million?

[curious]

I don't really know. Probably depends on the land cost first of all but that's what Messara proposed.

It does seem that it might have gone off the boil though.

If a new major Waikato Greenfields racing and training facility were
established within say 8 to 10 years, as is being proposed by NZTR, the
estimated capital cost would be about an additional $110 million and
it could be more than this depending on exactly what infrastructure is
built. That said, the cost of Pakenham’s new Tynong racing and training
venue in Victoria, opened in 2015, is to date about $A 100 million,
including $A 10 million for land acquisition. The Pakenham facility
comprises a main turf track, a Polytrack synthetic racing and training
track, lights on both these tracks, a turf training track, 2 sand training
tracks, an event/functions/race day centre, race day administration and
jockeys’ rooms, bulk excavation and water storage dams, 2 tunnels,
horse stalls, 2 trainer allotment sub divisions, a rising main sewerage
system, a marque area and associated infrastructure, and a maintenance
building.

[Buller Rep]

One problem is that the cost of the farm land is probably even more expensive than in Australia, especially in when buying in the Waikato.