Tuesday is D-Day for Rosehill sale decision

More than half of the Australian Turf Club’s 11,500 members are expected to vote on the contentious Rosehill sale proposal, with the result to be revealed on Tuesday.

An aerial view of Rosehill racecourse. Picture: Steve Christo / Corbis

The contentious Rosehill sale proposal will be determined by an Australian Turf Club membership vote on Tuesday.

ATC has a membership base of nearly 11,500 and at most annual general meetings, usually less than 2000 cast votes on various issues.

But the club expects at least half of members to vote on the proposal to sell Rosehill for at least $5 billion to make way for 25,000 new homes.

Postal and online voting closes at 2pm on Sunday and the only other avenue members have to vote is to attend Tuesday’s extraordinary general meeting at Royal Randwick.

ATC is likely to side with convention and not allow media into Tuesday’s meeting. It is understood all votes will be collated and the result announced on the same day.

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THE Royal Randwick track surface was in remarkable shape considering the rainfall which swamped Sydney last week.

Despite the track receiving nearly 200mls of rain in the lead-up to Saturday’s meeting, course manager Michael Wood and his staff were able to present a track rated as a heavy 9 for the opening race.

Australian Turf Club Track Manager Michael Wood updates us on tstate of the Royal Randwick surface in the lead up to today’s @Sportingchance_ cancer Foundation Raceday meeting pic.twitter.com/DEoxyyjCRj

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) May 24, 2025

• World famous Dapto Dogs to be shut down

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TABCORP chief executive Gill McLachlan has revealed plans to invest millions of dollars to upgrade wagering facilities in pubs and clubs to improve the wagering giant’s retail offerings to punters.

In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, McLachlan said he wants to “prioritise the retail experience” including the 3700 venues across the nation which host betting terminals.

“This investment will make pubs and clubs busier and is at the heart of our business,’’ McLachlan said.

Tabcorp boss Gillon McLachlan. Picture: David Caird

“We will be injecting unprecedented levels of promotions and new initiatives into our retail network over the next 12 months as we aim to revitalise our retail offering.

“We want to grow the retail network and work transparently with our partners to create alignment on a growth strategy that creates better commercial outcomes for venues.’’

McLachlan said the proposal was the “biggest upgrade to our retail network in the company’s history’’ and would include more $20 million in wagering credits and special offers to TAB punters betting in pubs and clubs in the new financial year.

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Tabcorp’s proposal to stimulate betting on their retail network comes as French racing authorities announced huge prizemoney cuts due to a worrying decline in wagering revenues.

France Gallop plans to slash prizemoney by about $A35 million per year as it tries to slash costs and bring the sport to a balanced budget by the end of this decade.

Although prizemoney for Group 1 races won’t change, stakes for other Group and Listed races will be reduced by 8.5 per cent, and other flat races by 4 per cent.

France Galop's administrative council has agreed a plan to cut prize-money by €20 million per year in an effort to bring the sport back to a balanced budgethttps://t.co/5HBhr4kM6t

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) May 20, 2025

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Champion jockey James McDonald made the trip to Hong Kong overnight to partner favourite Voyage Bubble in the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Voyage Bubble has been dominant over 1600m to 2000m this season but needs to stretch his stamina reserves out to 2400m for the final major of the Hong Kong season.

Among his main rivals is England’s globetrotting Dubai Honour, winner of three Australian Group 1 races including the Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double in 2023.

River Verdon is Hong Kong racing's original trailblazer and only #TripleCrown winner EVER! 🧡

Learn more about the horse Voyage Bubble is trying to match this Sunday with success in third and final leg of the series... 🏆@WorldPool | #LoveRacing | #HKracingpic.twitter.com/bKOu5M2Bok

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 23, 2025

The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour returned to Sydney for the autumn carnival this year and won the Tancred Stakes before finishing second to champion Via Sistina in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Dubai Honour is regarded as a superior stayer and he did run a very good second in the Hong Kong International Vase last December.

Originally published as Tuesday is D-Day for Rosehill sale decision