Penrith to play crucial role in securing racing’s future in NSW after sale of Rosehill
A golf course in Penrith could become the new home of horseracing in Sydney with the Australian Turf Club moving to acquire the site as part of its plans to sell Rosehill Gardens.
NSW
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The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the ATC has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Seven Hills RSL – the owners of Penrith Golf Club – to acquire the site to develop a new racing and training precinct.
The site was chosen after an exhaustive search for alternate track locations within the Sydney basin after initial plans for a course at Homebush fell over.
The ATC has earmarked more than $370m from the potential sale of Rosehill Gardens to acquire and develop Penrith Golf Club into a thoroughbred training centre with capacity for more than 300 stables.
The Sunday Telegraph has obtained exclusive images of the proposed track, which would extend over 2000m with a 400m straight.
It is understood existing Penrith Golf Club members – who will be informed of the MOA this weekend – would receive access to new and upgraded ATC venues in return for giving up the site.
The sale of Rosehill has been mired in controversy since the Minns government received an unsolicited proposal from the ATC in 2023, with veteran trainers such as Gai Waterhouse fighting against the plans.
The government is counting on the sale to realise 25,000 new homes.
The ATC has told its members that the sale offered a “one off” opportunity for it to become the most financially secure racing club in the world.
A new horseracing facility in Penrith would complement the proposed $800m redevelopment of the outdated Warwick Farm into a world-class Group One racing venue.
ATC chairman Peter McGauran said discussions with Penrith Golf Club would play a crucial role in securing racing’s future in NSW.
“Our vision includes the construction of another Group One racecourse that would secure Sydney’s place as a global racing hub,’’ he said.
“While these discussions are in early stages, we’re excited about the potential that benefits the racing industry, ATC and Penrith Golf Club members, and the local community.
“Penrith is one of the fastest growing population centres in NSW and ticks all the boxes in playing a key role for the next generation of racing.”
A racecourse at Penrith is part of the ATC’s $1.9bn infrastructure strategy it wants to roll out should members approve the proposed sale of Rosehill Gardens.
As part of the rollout, a new Racing Advisory Board composed of a majority of independent experts will provide input into the program.
The ATC Extraordinary General Meeting, where members will vote on the broader Rosehill Gardens proposal, will be held on May 27.
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