Trainer Richard Freedman pushes for Rosehill sale to go ahead

Horse trainer Richard Freedman has urged Australian Turf Club members to vote to sell Rosehill Racecourse, saying the site could be worth a lot less in the future.

Leading trainer Richard Freedman has urged Australian Turf Club members not to miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sell Rosehill Racecourse for $5 billion.

Mr Freedman said comments against the sale from fellow trainers — including legend Peter Snowden, John Thompson, John O’Shea and Ron Quinton — were based on “incorrect” information.

In a piece filmed for the Save Rosehill action group, Mr Snowden said “you don’t sell assets”, and claimed no set amount of money had been offered.

“Why sell? It’ll be worth double that in 10 years time. Anyone that owns real estate in Sydney knows that,” he said.

But Mr Freedman said he was wrong. “One of the reasons to sell now is because there is time for a metro station to be built there. If you miss that window it could be worth a lot less,” he said.

Horse trainer Richard Freedman at the NSW Parliamentary inquiry hearing into the redevelopment of Rosehill Racecourse last year. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short

The NSW government has agreed to buy the land for at least $5 billion if ATC members vote in favour of the sale online or at a meeting on Tuesday.

Premier Chris Minns said the sale, which would make way for 25,000 new homes to ease the housing crisis, was a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” that was completely dependent on it being decided in time to build a new metro station.

Trainer Peter Snowden is against the sale. Picture: Getty Images

“The government is only going to build a metro through the line … once. It can’t happen again. So it’s not as if the organisation will be able to revisit this opportunity in 10, 15, 20 years’ time,” the Premier has said.

Mr Freedman said: “The question is whether the ATC really want to take the risk that it will really be worth more money in the future.”

The 11,500 members of the ATC have been offered free lifetime membership and $1000 to spend on food and drinks if the sale of Rosehill Gardens goes ahead.

When the final proposal was unveiled, ATC chairman Peter McGauran said the membership deal was aimed at “revitalising flagging race day attendances”.

He has said the sale would make the ATC the most financially secure racing club in the world and ensure the future of racing in NSW for generations.

If the sale goes ahead Warwick Farm racecourse would receive an $800 million revamp to turn it into a Group One racecourse with a 463m-long straight to rival Flemington’s in Melbourne.

It would include six new tracks including four training tracks and a 600-box stabling precinct with 15 barns on the course for trainers to accommodate 1000 racehorses.

“Trainers and jockeys will benefit from tracks, training centres and facilities unparalleled in world racing,” Mr McGauran has said.

The racing community is divided on whether the Rosehill sale should go ahead. Picture: Getty Images

Spectators would be able to watch the 2,175m-long reconfigured course from a new multipurpose grandstand that incorporates a lifestyle centre.

The move was welcomed by Mark Webster, managing director of Inglis, which received fierce opposition from the industry when it moved its horse auction business from Randwick to Warwick Farm.

Mr Webster said the sale of Rosehill should go ahead and Warwick Farm upgraded to replace it.

“The amount of land at Warwick Farm is 87ha compared to 60 at Rosehill. They have 27 extra hectares to play with,” he said.

“It is the centre of the new Sydney. The new airport is 20km to the west and the old airport is 20km to the east,” he said.

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Originally published as Trainer Richard Freedman pushes for Rosehill sale to go ahead