Racing industry prepares to fight to keep its lease of showground

The sale of the Tasmanian showground to a property developer has greyhound and harness racers on edge over future use of the venue for meetings.

Greyhound owner and trainer Butch Deverell with dog Bobby at Penguin. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TASMANIA’S racing industry is preparing to fight to retain use of the Devonport Showground for greyhound and harness meetings after its sale to property developers is finalised.

The Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Society announced this week it had decided to sell the showground — a venue Tasracing has a lease over for the next 22 years.

The North West Greyhound Racing Club holds meetings every Tuesday and the Devonport Harness Racing Club 13 meetings between November and July.

“Tasracing and the two Devonport race clubs hold 67 meetings annually at the showgrounds servicing more than 170 participants and generating about $1.85m in Race Field Fees that flow back to the Tasmanian Racing Industry,” Tasracing CEO Paul Eriksson said.

The DAPS has decided to sell the ground to affordable housing advocates Ian Ugarte and Simon Want who founded the Australian Housing Initiative and are involved in projects across the city.

MORE TASSIE NEWS

RAPIST’S SENTENCE STANDS AS APPEAL DISMISSED

‘SAFE’ LABOR SEAT IN DANGER

LIBS TAKE POLL POSITION IN BATTLE FOR BASS

SPOOKS BRIEF TASSIE TEACHERS AHEAD OF ASIAN MISSION

COUNCIL’S PURSUIT OF PARKING FINE SPIRALS TO $3000-PLUS

While that is good news for the residential real estate market in the northern Tasmanian city it has rattled the racing industry and it is understood AHI intends to work closely with Tasracing to transition to a new site.

DAPS has been through a tough financial time and has not held a show at the ground for two years.

It said the undisclosed proceeds of the sale would be used to promote agriculture in the local area.

Whether that involves an annual show at a new site has not yet been decided.

Mr Eriksson said Tasracing had been advised nothing would change in the short term under the new ownership other and talks would be held.

But he said the need to protect and support the interests of North-West racing participants was paramount — participants like Penguin dog trainer and Tasmanian Greyhound Hall of Fame inductee Butch Deverell, who was shocked to learn the ground at which he had been racing for 50 years had been sold.

“We are all left scratching our heads wondering what will happen,” Mr Deverell said yesterday.

“If the track is closed, there is not another suitable track on the coast and I could not afford to go to Launceston to race. I would give it away.”

Mr Eriksson said while Tasracing was keen to work with the new owners it was firm in its position that it held a lease to the site for another 22 years.

“Through its funding of racing in Devonport, Tasracing estimates that it is investing more than $550,000 into the Devonport community annually (excluding prize money payments).

“We want to assure our industry participants that Tasracing will continue to support racing on the North-West Coast and will work to ensure it is not adversely impacted by this decision.”

AHI has various projects underway in Devonport, including the conversion of an old warehouse into “New York” loft-style apartments, and Fenton Villas, which will provide affordable accommodation to senior residents.

[e-mail]