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It is true.  Levin has already sold off what it could.  That realised cash is slowly diminishing as it funds opex.  There isn't enough in the bucket to do anything substantial.  I do note though that there are "consultants" clipping the ticket annually.

Oh dear the mafia theory again.  How should the allocation be determined?  Given there are a limited number of dates available which is decreasing in line with the decreasing horse population.  I've suggest in the past that the majority of the dates should be contestable.  But the fact is most of the Clubs couldn't afford the contest!

Clubs falling over has less to do with NZTR than you assert.  They are falling over for the same reason other clubs are falling over be it the local rugby club or RSA.  Those drivers have nothing to do with NZTR.  Sure NZTR have stopped propping every Club up because they don't have the resources to support all of them. Why not?  I gather you approved of what the Westland Racing Club did when if a fit of churlish pique they gave their assets back to the local community.  Racing on the West Coast lost to parochialism and an inability for the four clubs to work together.  Oh the irony @Huey if you dig deeper into what the Westland Racing Club did you'll find that on the surface it may have looked a benevolent charitable donation to the community but underneath some benefited just the same way that some are benefitting from the Wellington Racing Club sell off.  But that's OK because in your mind the WRC stuck the finger to NZTR! Yes Levin's contribution is significant but it isn't sustainable.  If Otaki want to subsidise them then that's their business.  Where have NZTR ever said that these Clubs DON'T contribute?  In terms of them being surplus isn't it more of a question of is the capital they have invested returning an income that makes them sustainable?  The accounts (that we have visibility of) say they aren't.  There is a bigger strategic picture that Clubs just don't want to address.  If Levin had racedays then very quickly they would end up in the same situation as Ellerslie (was), Te Rapa, Hastings, Trentham and so on.

Maybe they could get some of the small clubs to subsidise the packages first them so they can sell them.

That's not true , they probably could maintain or update , but what's the point given they'll never likely see another race day there again through no fault of their own.

Can't disagree with that , but even that's rigged with NZTR deciding who gets race days or specific race dates.

Levin doesn't have the facilities to run their own racedays and would require considerable capital investment to get up to scratch.  Arguably they struggle to maintain what they've got as it is.   Meanwhile Otaki has to maintain all its facilities and rents to Levin for three days for peppercorns.  

I have no opinion on whether it is archaic or not however even that model wouldn't generate enough revenue for Clubs to pay their way unless they had significant sources of other revenue. Clubs have got by on voluntary work and community donations in services and kind.  Hell that is how Hokitika kept going.  My own father through his business invested thousands in his local racecourse because it was his passion and hobby.  That sought of generosity is diminishing rapidly for many valid reasons.

Last two decades?  Yet none of them have done anything to turn things around except expect more handouts?  As for your analysis of the 90's that's not correct either.  The majority of clubs were sitting on their hands and not keeping up with the maintenance of racing infrastructure.  Those chickens are flocking to the roost now! Those Clubs (big or small) that have racing as their sole source of revenue cannot sustain themselves.  That is reality.