Chief Stipe Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Ellerslie farewells racing for 18 months NZ Racing Desk 14 March 2022 Horses will be an absent sight from Ellerslie racecourse for at least the next 18 months. A StrathAyr track will be put in at the Auckland venue as part of several measures agreed after the amalgamation of Auckland Racing Club and Counties Racing Club into Auckland Thoroughbred Racing last year. While the club has given the industry the estimated timeframe, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Paul Wilcox said it may take longer if needed. “Our plan at this stage is 18 months but one thing I have been vocal about is that we won’t be back to race unless the track is signed off that it is ready to race,” Wilcox said. “We will go through a period of working with senior jockeys and the trainers and make sure the track is ready for racing - doing jumpouts and moving into trials. “We will have smaller cards to start off with before we build into a 10-race card.” The curtain was pulled down on racing with the Auckland Cup meeting on Sunday, while Monday’s trials marked the last day of the current track’s operation. Construction of the StrathAyr track is set to get underway in the next few weeks. “Towards the end of March – early April, the track will start to be dug up,” Wilcox said. “Our first priority is the track, but we are putting in a new underground entrance down by the 600m mark. That will be the entry and exit for anyone coming to Ellerslie. We want to remove the crossing. “We have got the underpass already at the 150m on the home-straight where people come into the track. All our parking will be on the inside of the track. “There is a lot going on, but our priority is to get that track right. We will then start to be looking at increasing stakes, which is incredibly important for our industry.” The club is currently working with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to decide where the club’s feature meetings are held over the next two years. “We are still working out where individual races will move to,” he said. “Counties will be taking some of our bigger days, as well as Te Rapa and Te Aroha, when that is back. “We will also be looking further afield and what is best for the distances of those races and making sure it is close to the proximity of trainers and owners. “But Boxing Day will be at Pukekohe and New Year’s Day will be at Te Rapa.” Wilcox said the club will take a phased approach to return to racing. “Right at the start we won’t be having a full schedule of meetings like we normally would,” he said. “You still have to give the track the time to bed in, and that is making sure the grass is rooted properly so you get the structure and strength of that grass. “We have seen examples of tracks coming back too soon, so my priority is to make sure it is done properly.” The sale of the Ellerslie Hill has been a controversial topic, but Wilcox said the industry will see the benefits of the sale, particularly with increased stakes. “The Ellerslie Hill is a part of our history that is no longer here,” Wilcox said. “I love our history, I support our history, I respect our history, but my thought process is you don’t live your history, you live your future. “It (sale) is a decision we made that I knew wasn’t going to make me popular. Unfortunately, you have got to make changes to have a sustained long-term success in this game and what we have done is going to do that. “Now it is on my, the board, and the team here’s shoulders to make sure it is done properly. “While people are upset about it, when they are winning those races when we are back here on a really good track for decent money, hopefully that will help heal some of those wounds.” It has been a tough few years for the club as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions and Wilcox said it is nice to finally get underway in investing in the club and industry’s future. “It has been a hell of a two years here and we have been restricted more than most clubs around New Zealand in the fact that we only had a New Year’s Day and Karaka Million and the rest have been pretty restricted,” he said. “It has been tough, but after the trials (on Monday) it is a matter of working with civil guys and girls (engineers) and we will start going from there.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 It is a bit of a worry to hear a lot of their feature meetings will go to Pukekohe. That track didn't look flash last weekend and I did read where one trainer said it was too wet for his horse despite no rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 15, 2022 Author Share Posted March 15, 2022 17 minutes ago, Doomed said: It is a bit of a worry to hear a lot of their feature meetings will go to Pukekohe. That track didn't look flash last weekend and I did read where one trainer said it was too wet for his horse despite no rain. It puts pressure on other tracks that are also stuffed. But what other options are there? Doesn't seem to be a coordinated industry plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 21 minutes ago, Doomed said: It is a bit of a worry to hear a lot of their feature meetings will go to Pukekohe. That track didn't look flash last weekend and I did read where one trainer said it was too wet for his horse despite no rain. We all know what is going to happen... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 They'll cock it up. They always do 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 I was going to suggest a race like the Derby could move to Trentham or Riccarton, but on second thoughts..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangatira Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Doomed said: I was going to suggest a race like the Derby could move to Trentham or Riccarton, but on second thoughts..... Perfect Derby starting point at Reefton ? Edited March 15, 2022 by Rangatira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 2 hours ago, Doomed said: I was going to suggest a race like the Derby could move to Trentham or Riccarton, but on second thoughts..... Maybe should move the Derby back to Riccarton for a couple of years. Perhaps they could run it on the AWT? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kihikihi Kid Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 No mention of Avondale ?? I saw this as the holy grail for them . They were going to be the BIGGGEST winners of Ellerslie's track upgrade. At least 2 to 3 years more solid racing guaranteed and who knows , May have been enough to make them a much needed part of racing infrastructure in the North again. Am I missing something or don't they want to be part of this Brave New World. I hope not but fear the latter. The track itself is ok to race and bet on , right handed and in Auckland. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 6 minutes ago, Kihikihi Kid said: No mention of Avondale ?? I saw this as the holy grail for them . They were going to be the BIGGGEST winners of Ellerslie's track upgrade. At least 2 to 3 years more solid racing guaranteed and who knows , May have been enough to make them a much needed part of racing infrastructure in the North again. Am I missing something or don't they want to be part of this Brave New World. I hope not but fear the latter. The track itself is ok to race and bet on , right handed and in Auckland. Probably the only track in the north that hasn't had controversy over the quality of the racing surface. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 3 hours ago, Doomed said: Probably the only track in the north that hasn't had controversy over the quality of the racing surface. yes so right so it has a perfect surface so what do the know alls in Wellington decide? We'll shut it down 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 6 hours ago, Rangatira said: Perfect Derby starting point at Reefton ? At least you will get a track that is properly presented but the Presidents speech might stick in the craw of one or two of the hob nobs running NZ racing 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 8 hours ago, Reefton said: At least you will get a track that is properly presented but the Presidents speech might stick in the craw of one or two of the hob nobs running NZ racing Some of those northern jockeys might miscount the laps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted March 15, 2022 Author Share Posted March 15, 2022 Is it possible that shifting these meetings will negatively affect TAB revenue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 1 hour ago, Doomed said: Some of those northern jockeys might miscount the laps. not unknown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark D Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 A culmination of decades of mismanagement at the ARC and NZTR. ARC has been the recipient of largesse from the rest of thoroughbred racing, loans written off, priority funding for stakes etc etc and they have fucked it up. Of course the current Chair of the NZTR was supposed to "make Ellerslie great again" and he failed and then NZB put in their puppet and he has failed miserably in a short time selling off the family silver etc etc and left the rest of the industry to make up for their stuff ups again. Glad I no longer am propping them up with any involvement in the industry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Is it possible that shifting these meetings will negatively affect TAB revenue? Probably improve it at a guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Strath Ayr...another reason not to...bother betting on NZ races.🙄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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