Gosford Racecourse: 200 new stables announced for racing facility

An $8 million investment into Gosford Racecourse has been revealed that will revitalise the industry and create dozens of jobs. Find out what that money will buy.

Two hundred new stables will help “breathe life” back into Gosford racing.

The State Government’s latest $8m investment into the Gosford Racecourse was announced at The Entertainment Grounds on Monday.

It marks the second stage of a major revamp of the racing facility, following the recently opened $3.4m polytrack.

The stables will be built on land in Faunce St, directly opposite the entrance to the racecourse, which Racing NSW bought in 2020.

It will bring the facility’s total number of stables to 290 with the view to attract more trainers and horses to Gosford.

Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch, trainer Angela Davies and Racing Minister Kevin Anderson at the announcement on Monday.

Horse trainer Angela Davies said the new stables was wonderful news for current and future trainers.

“It will just breathe life back into racing at Gosford,” she said.

“Trainers here haven’t been able to grow due to the lack of stabling. This allows us to grow our businesses. We have already been able to attract new clients just from the new polytrack.”

Ms Davies said the new stables would also attract trainers from Sydney.

“Everybody is going to benefit and the more funding we can get here, the more we can attract bigger trainers, better horses … I couldn’t be happier from a trainer’s point of view,” she said.

Horse trainer Angela Davies said it was wonderful news.

NSW Racing Minister Kevin Anderson said the upgrade would attract “better horses”.

The Entertainment Grounds chief executive officer Daniel Lacey said they had been working in the background with Racing NSW during the pandemic.

Mr Lacey said while the spectator facilities were up and running benefiting the local community, the stables would be an industry investment.

He said 200 additional stables meant another 50 full time jobs here on the coast.

“This is a big stimulus to kick start Gosford,” he said.

“I am really looking forward to construction getting underway which I am sure will be pretty soon.”

Mr Lacey said the upgrade would also mean further conversations about upgrading race meetings at Gosford.

The Entertainment Grounds CEO Daniel Lacy said construction would start soon.

The new $3.4m polytrack was unveiled at Gosford Racecourse in October.

Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch said the Gosford track was going from strength to strength.

“The jobs it will create for coasties during construction is another exciting announcement,” he said.

“The racing industry employs more than 850 people across the Central Coast. These new facilities mean that Central Coast trainers will be able to expand their operations which in turn provides additional employment for our locals.”

NSW Racing Minister Kevin Anderson said the 200 stables would provide facilities for “those better horses”.

“When you look at the connectivity of Gosford compared to Sydney, NorthConnex, now you are three quarters of an hour, an hour from Randwick, Canterbury and Warwick Farm,” he said.

“That accessibility has just opened right up so those better horses and the best trainers in Australia right here are now able to now have some of those horses in their care and that’s what’s going to drive productivity and economic growth of this particular racecourse.”