Defining moment for racing in Sydney and NSW as Rosehill sale vote revealed by Australian Turf Club

The Australian Turf Club’s proposal to sell Rosehill Gardens racecourse for a reported $5 billion to make way for 25,000 new homes will today be determined by the club’s 11,000-plus members.

ATC chairman Peter McGauran (top right) and NSW Premier Chris Minns (bottom left) will be anxiously awaiting the result of Tuesday's club members vote on the proposal to sell Rosehill racecourse.

To sell or not to sell, that is the question.

The Australian Turf Club’s proposal to sell Rosehill Gardens racecourse for a reported $5 billion to make way for 25,000 new homes will be determined by the club’s 11,000-plus members on Tuesday.

This is a defining moment for Sydney and NSW racing. It is up to the members to decide the fate of Rosehill, the home of the Golden Slipper.

Rosehill is a historic venue and all the greats of Australian racing like Phar Lap, Tulloch, Bernborough, Todman, Vain, Luskin Star, Manikato, Kingston Town, Octagonal, Lonhro, Makybe Diva and Winx won major races there.

But only 12,111 attended the Golden Slipper earlier this year and less than 100,000 people came to Rosehill meetings during the 2023-24 season. This is a disturbing decline in race day crowds given 191,671 came through the turnstiles in 2012-13.

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So, if this issue is not burdensome enough already for members, they also have to work out what is fact or fiction from what has been a very robust and often heated debate from proponents of the Yes and No votes.

There have been so many claims and counterclaims from both sides of the argument that it has become increasingly difficult to work out what is right or wrong.

ATC chairman Peter McGauran has said if members vote to sell Rosehill it will secure the future of Sydney racing.

“We believe it is the biggest and most important decision in the history of the club,’’ McGauran said. “It will make us the most financially secure race club in the world.’’

Marhoona (green and white silks) wins the 2025 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Picture: Bradley Photos

• ATC tees off on Penrith golf course plan for new track in Sydney’s west

But Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse has led the charge against the sale, urging members to vote “No”.

“Members still have no definitive proposal of any sort to justify a sale,’’ Waterhouse wrote on social media earlier this month.

“Warwick Farm is unsuitable, there is no supporting evidence to say a track can be built, and if ‘yes’ wins then voting members lose all control of Rosehill. We may as well throw our betting tickets away.’’

The Daily Telegraph, however, recently revealed Waterhouse has not attended a Rosehill meeting in five years and is more often seen at Melbourne race tracks.

ATC expects at least half of the club’s membership base of nearly 11,500 to vote on the issue.

The “no” vote is favourite with the Save Rosehill group having the support of many leading industry participants.

But if members vote in favour of selling Rosehill, the land will be used to build 25,000 new homes while ATC has unveiled plans to redevelop Warwick Farm and build a new training facility near Penrith which has the potential to also to be a Group 1 racetrack.

ATC Chairman Peter McGauran joined 2GB Sydney's Ben Fordham this morning to discuss the potential sale of Rosehill Gardens for $5 billion.@BenFordham | @2GB873

Find out more: https://t.co/ACY4M559Ehpic.twitter.com/4fYtUI8NQx

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 12, 2025

The $5 billion sale price is a one-off and is dependent on a decision being made in time for the NSW Government to build a new Metro station to service the homes that would be built on the racecourse land.

In an endeavour to provide some clarity for those members still trying to decide how they will vote on Tuesday, this is a snapshot of the most pressing issues concerning the Rosehill sale proposal.

1: What does selling Rosehill mean for Sydney racing?

If Rosehill is sold, ATC has stipulated racing will continue at the track until at least 2031. During this period, $800 million will be spent on transforming Warwick Farm, $520 million on upgrading stabling facilities and other infrastructure at Royal Randwick, and another $520 million allocated to building the training centre at Penrith. In total, $1.9 million will be spent on various infrastructure projects with the remaining $3 billion invested into a Future Fund.

2: Is the $5 billion guaranteed if Rosehill is sold?

The resolution to sell Rosehill ensures that the deal will only proceed if the State Government agrees to pay ATC a net of $5 billion. Payment will be secured through a legally binding contract with the NSW Government, which will provide a mechanism to safeguard payment.

3: Who will have control of the funds?

The ATC owns Rosehill Gardens and has stipulated it will retain complete legal and financial control over every dollar if the sale goes ahead. Racing NSW has provided written confirmation to the ATC that it will not seek to recover any of the net $5 billion in sale proceeds.

4: Is Warwick Farm a suitable and viable alternative to Rosehill?

Under the ATC masterplan, Warwick Farm will undergo an $800 million transformation, including flood proofing, and a completely new racetrack and grandstand. At 87 hectares, it is vastly larger than Rosehill Gardens (60 hectares).

5: Is there a transition plan for trainers if Rosehill is sold?

This is one of the most difficult aspects of the sale proposal as any potential sale of Rosehill and rebuild of Warwick Farm will directly impact trainers and their stable staff. ATC has vowed to work individually with all trainers on transition plans with the consultation period to last at least 12 months. No trainers at either Warwick Farm or Rosehill Gardens will be relocated for at least two years and the new Racing Advisory Board is there to provide advice and input on transition plans.

6: ATC’s loyalty program for members

The ATC is planning to introduce a loyalty program for members funded by proceeds from the proposed sale. Critics have described as a “gimmick or bribe” while the club is hoping to use the program to increase club membership and what have been poor race-day attendances. The Loyalty program will provide free annual membership fees for five years, free annual membership for life for those members who already have been at the club for 20 or more years, and $1000 per annum food and beverage credits for five years.