Ozzie News

Apologies if this is old news Unclear as to whether this is a Sept 28 or Feb 1 article

Sunday, September 28, 2025 Log InSubscribe NewsLifeOpinionBusinessSportPuzzlesSunday Star-Times Regions         Race for new track opens doors for major city development Jo Lines-MacKenzie   February 1, 2025 Comment (2) Share   The for sale sign could be going up on Te Rapa racecourse in the near future (file photo).Ben Curran / Waikato Times The Te Rapa Race Course is set to hit the market, with the massive slice of real estate offering a developer’s dream that could reshape the city. Waikato Thoroughbred Racing are looking towards finding and eventually moving to a single, fit-for-purpose site for racing and training in the Waikato. The massive shift means an eventual amalgamation of the region’s three major racing facilities with Te Rapa, Cambridge and Waipā racecourses hitting the market in the future.           Te Rapa racecourse occupies about 50 hectares in Hamilton. There has already been enquiries from people interested in the facility when it comes up for sale.Mark Taylor / Waikato Times Waikato Thoroughbred Racing CEO Andrew Castles said a one stop site is something that's been talked about for a long time and there's been enormous support to continue down this path after board approval late last year. Bayleys Real Estate agent Peter Kelly has been tasked with finding land which could potentially host the super hub for the industry.   The land needs to be capable of handling the training of up to 1250 thoroughbreds daily, operating 365 days a year, and hosting up to 50 race or trial meetings annually. He’s hoping to locate 10 or more properties to consider and is inviting expressions of interest from landowners by February 19. Kelly said after due diligence the list would be narrowed down to three or four. ADVERTISEMENT Advertise with Stuff Castles said there’s already been significant interest from various parties who potentially might have the space. But the big move, although some way off, begs the question of what happens to Te Rapa race course. It’s been situated at 1 Ken Browne Drive since 1924 and although once boasting 160 hectares, now it sits on around 50 hectares of prime central city land. Andrew Castles said there is been talk about an amalgamation of the clubs for a while.Christel Yardley / Waikato Times Castles knows Te Rapa is a strategically important piece of land for Hamilton and the greater Waikato. “There's been interest, we certainly have spoken to various parties that have expressed an interest to be kept up to speed with how things are progressing.” The other facilities - Cambridge Racecourse is around 61 hectares, and Waipā 34 hectares - would also potentially be up for sale at some time too. Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate applauded the vision of the racing industry but didn’t see council buying any of Te Rapa racecourse but if they were approached it would be up to the entire council to decide. “I wouldn't think we would be in a position to buy that land at this time. My personal view is that I wouldn't be looking at that. I would be expecting private developers to grab that opportunity and do good things with it.” She said there is still a strong need for more housing, and council would focus on infill for the city. Waikato CEO Andrew Castles said they’re dealing with ageing facilities (file photo).Tom Lee / Waikato Times ADVERTISEMENT Advertise with Stuff “We would welcome working with any future development that was able to build more inner city living. “Parts of it are sort of a commercial area at the back there towards towards the railway, so we'd be very interested to see what opportunities developers could bring to the table for that.” Southgate said the council will endeavour to be as helpful as possible with any investors and developers. The mayor acknowledged that Te Rapa race course will hold fond memories for a number of different reason’s not just horse racing. “I can remember one of my friends way back when I was still at school at Hamilton Girls' High, one of my friends getting married there because they had the really beautiful lounges overlooking the racecourse. There were school balls there all sorts. It will be a big change for Hamiltonians.” Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate doesn’t think the council would be purchasing Te Rapa racecourse but was excited by development at the site (file photo).Kelly Hodel / WAIKATO TIMES Castles said there were a raft of reasons racing club collaboration needs to happen at a new space. “We're operating at ageing facilities. The Cambridge training centre is starting to be surrounded by significant residential growth, which means it becomes more problematic to conduct business as they have in the past.” “The need for state of the art training, racing and patron facilities, it’s something that we need to address for generations to come.“ Castles said that to pay for new things, it often means selling old things. But he knows there has to be a well thought out plan while until the new greenfield is operational. The Cambridge race track has seen an increase in residential properties move closer to its boundaries (file photo).Christel Yardley / Waikato Times “We've got upwards of 1200 horses and work at the Cambridge track and over 150 at Waipa that still need to have somewhere to work and prepare for their careers whilst we are building this. “So it becomes a timing issue and that's the trick in projects like this is how you bridge that gap between starting the build and ending it whilst continuing to utilise the assets that you've got.” Asked if there would be help from the Government, Castles agreed it could be an avenue they may look at to “speed up consent”. Castles expects to update club members with a business case with recommendations later this year. But it is a project that will take some time. Te Rapa race course has been entertaining racing fans since 1924 (file photo).Jeff Brass / Waikato Times “If you look at the history of things like this, I would suggest it's probably an eight to 10-year project, of which we're probably a year into it.” Waikato Racing said the racing industry in the region is responsible for generating more than $505.3 million in value added contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The industry sustained 3812 full-time equivalent jobs in the region. Race meetings in the Waikato region attracted attendances of 65,930 or 10.3% of total attendances at race meetings in New Zealand.

Most of the old folk I've asked specific questions to about the changes all agree that it is an improvement.  If you are in a hurry then use the app on your phone.  The new pod machines are very good.

The key figure is net returns as that is what is returned to the industry to fund capital and stakes.

I haven't been to a TAB for a while until recently.  If you think what they are now providing is progress, good on you.  It all is a turn off, especially if you are in a hurry.