‘I don’t think it’s something we should let pass’: Prominent owner-breeder Charles Kelly gets on front foot over Rosehill sale proposal

One of NSW racing’s leading owner-breeders has thrown his support behind the Australian Turf Club’s controversial $5 billion Rosehill racecourse sale proposal.

Newhaven Park and the Doncaster Hotel's Charles Kelly (right) with top jockey Blake Shinn at Randwick. Picture: File / Bradley Photos

One of NSW racing’s leading owner-breeders has thrown his support behind the Australian Turf Club’s controversial $5 billion Rosehill racecourse sale proposal.

Charles Kelly from famous Newhaven Park Stud has written to more than 100 leading industry figures imploring them to study the ATC proposal which he describes as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to secure the future of the NSW racing and breeding industry.

Kelly said ATC members should “give serious consideration to supporting this proposal”.

“I encourage you to read the ‘info’, watch the videos and see what opportunities this could provide the industry as a whole,’’ Kelly said.

ATC members received a detailed 111-page document from the club last week that outlined plans to spend $800m million to rebuild Warwick Farm racecourse with a reconfigured course proper and grandstands, a new inside course for midweek racing, four training tracks and facilities for 1000 horses.

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The document also provided information about infrastructure spends at Royal Randwick and Canterbury, and the club has subsequently confirmed it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Penrith Golf Club with plans to spend more than $370 million to acquire and develop the golf course into a training centre with the capacity for more than 300 horses.

ATC will allocate more than $1.9 billion on racecourse development and infrastructure if members vote “yes” to the Rosehill sale proposal on May 27.

Kelly said he felt compelled to speak out in support of the ATC Rosehill sale proposal which has the potential to financially future-proof the NSW racing industry for decades.

Revealed: A golf course in Penrith could become the new home of horse racing in Sydney with the Australian Turf Club moving to acquire the site as part of its plans to sell Rosehill Gardens.https://t.co/492O7zQm4j

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) May 11, 2025

• Free membership, $1000 bar tab offered if Rosehill sale goes ahead

“My family has been involved in this amazing industry for over 80 years. We live, sleep, eat, think and drink racing,’’ said Kelly whose family owns the iconic Doncaster Hotel near Royal Randwick.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. No racing jurisdiction has ever received this amount of capital anywhere in the world.

“I don’t think it’s something we should let pass on by, especially given the NSW Government is going to fully support the ATC and their plans.’’

Kelly revealed he “spent all day on the phone talking with people” about the Rosehill sale proposal since distributing his views via text message to many members and industry participants.

The proposal to sell Rosehill to make way for 25,000 homes is a polarising issue which has split the racing industry.

The ATC Vote on Rosehill takes place on 27th May. Members still have no definitive proposal of any sort to justify a sale. 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’s…

— Gai Waterhouse AO (@GaiWaterhouse1) May 13, 2025

• Revealed: $800m Warwick Farm racecourse revamp

There is strong opposition to selling Rosehill as the racecourse is a core asset of the ATC.

Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse has been a passionate and vocal critic of the sale proposal. She is overseas and won’t be present at the May 27 meeting but took to social media this week to reiterate why members should vote “no” to selling Rosehill.

“Members still have no definitive proposal of any sort to justify a sale,’’ Waterhouse wrote.

“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’s fate. We may as well throw our betting tickets away.’’

The “Save Rosehill” group wrote to members earlier this week declaring their position has not changed and provided 10 reasons why they are opposed to the sale despite the release of the ATC’s detailed proposals.

This prompted ATC to write to club members on Tuesday night and accuse the group fighting to save Rosehill of “misrepresenting” key facts around the proposed $5 billion racecourse sale before responding to each of the 10 points in detail.