Latest news with #SaveRosehill
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Doomed from the start: Why the great Rosehill sell-off failed
'I was swamped afterwards for controlling a meeting that saw the best of ATC membership, civility, construction … yes, there were strong points of view on a couple of occasions, there was a response from the audience, but it was minor over more than an hour of speaker after speaker.' V'landys isn't untouched by the defeat. Racing NSW supported the sale behind the scenes, and the power he wields has also come under scrutiny as the Rosehill controversy became a proxy battle in a broader conflict over racing's direction and leadership. A disappointed Premier Chris Minns singled him out after the vote, saying, 'Sydney could do with 10 Peter V'landys rather than one, and we'd be a more exciting, more dynamic city'. As the racecourse's owner, though, it was the ATC that devised and delivered the proposal, and it was behind the pace from the outset. Minns and McGauran announced the proposal 18 months ago, and just weeks later, in February last year, blindsided turf club members gathered at Rosehill at one of several forums. McGauran, a former minister in John Howard's government, addressed members, as did renowned trainer Gai Waterhouse, who has eight wins in the Golden Slipper, Rosehill's signature race, to her name. But it was the reaction that day of fellow trainer Chris Waller – the man behind champion mare Winx's record-breaking career – which turned the dial. 'Gai spoke up on social media nearly straight away, so you knew immediately that she was against it,' said Vicky Leonard, a member of the Save Rosehill group of trainers, owners and breeders, which challenged the sale process. 'Obviously Gai got up at that [forum] and was fairly aggressive, and she doesn't mince her words. 'But a lot of people didn't realise how upset Chris was until then. He's a very considered person, and he's also got a very close relationship to V'landys. So to have him speak out against anything that PVL endorses is pretty rare. That's why it was quite staggering.' Plans were then in their infancy, and it showed. Waller, whose stables are at Rosehill, reportedly said in a prepared statement that the designs presented looked like they had 'just been whipped up overnight'. The reception set the tone for what was to come, with opponents of the sale seizing on uncertainty over what the Sydney racing landscape would look like without Rosehill, and other unanswered questions. A split on the ATC board and a public slanging match between McGauran and vice-chair Tim Hale over what price the track could fetch was another setback, as was a referral to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, even though it quickly dismissed concerns over Minns' dealings with race club official and long-time friend Steve McMahon. Loading An entrenched distrust of racing's institutions also played its part in the 'No' vote win, as did the timing issues faced because of the urgency of deciding while a station could still be built on the new Sydney Metro West line. While the vote was twice delayed, proponents of the sale recovered ground in the weeks in the run-up to Tuesday's finish line as the ATC finally settled on a way forward. Warwick Farm Racecourse would be redeveloped into a top-line metropolitan track at a cost of $800 million, and a golf course at Penrith would be converted into a fourth track for the city. A loyalty scheme in which members would have their fees waived and receive $1000 food and drink credits for five years also seemed to hit the right note, despite being derided by opponents as a bid to buy votes. A new 'lifestyle club' was also to be built at Randwick. 'There is a demographic that exclusively uses Randwick and they're probably younger … I think the free membership and the $1000 [credit] has resonated,' said former ATC chairman and Macquarie Group executive director Laurie Macri. 'I've spoken to a lot of members … I was at dinner the other night with four of my mates, and they were all voting 'No'. But between the four of them, they had six kids, all under 30, all live in eastern suburbs, and five had voted 'Yes' and one had voted 'No'. ' Prominent industry figures such as trainer Richard Freedman and Charles Kelly of leading horse stud Newhaven Park also publicly backed it this month, and V'landys moved to allay fears that Racing NSW would scoop up the proceeds. In the end, it wasn't quite enough. Those who pushed for the sale point the finger at vested interests and misinformation for bringing it undone. Loading The role of Waterhouse, who fought it tooth and nail despite her bookmaker husband Robbie offering up land in western Sydney for a new track, was also significant. McGauran admits the lack of detail provided to members until last month wounded the Yes cause but says it was the 'nature of the beast'. 'Unfortunately, because it was an unsolicited proposal process, everything was back to front,' he said. 'It was a land deal, so we couldn't talk about it until the deal was done. 'We had nothing to show for months except those basic drawings. It was always the cart before the horse. I would have loved to have spent months planning it down to its final detail and then releasing it to members, but it was never possible under the confidential negotiations with the government.' While Minns' housing solution is out the window, racing will go on, the grandstands populated during carnival time and mostly empty at others. With the ATC reliant on Racing NSW for top-ups from betting revenue, tired facilities in need of a revamp and McGauran worried about the sport's declining social standing, the question for Sydney racing is whether it will regret knocking back a so-called deal of a lifetime. The members, however, have spoken. As they say, that's racing.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Doomed from the start: Why the great Rosehill sell-off failed
'I was swamped afterwards for controlling a meeting that saw the best of ATC membership, civility, construction … yes, there were strong points of view on a couple of occasions, there was a response from the audience, but it was minor over more than an hour of speaker after speaker.' V'landys isn't untouched by the defeat. Racing NSW supported the sale behind the scenes, and the power he wields has also come under scrutiny as the Rosehill controversy became a proxy battle in a broader conflict over racing's direction and leadership. A disappointed Premier Chris Minns singled him out after the vote, saying, 'Sydney could do with 10 Peter V'landys rather than one, and we'd be a more exciting, more dynamic city'. As the racecourse's owner, though, it was the ATC that devised and delivered the proposal, and it was behind the pace from the outset. Minns and McGauran announced the proposal 18 months ago, and just weeks later, in February last year, blindsided turf club members gathered at Rosehill at one of several forums. McGauran, a former minister in John Howard's government, addressed members, as did renowned trainer Gai Waterhouse, who has eight wins in the Golden Slipper, Rosehill's signature race, to her name. But it was the reaction that day of fellow trainer Chris Waller – the man behind champion mare Winx's record-breaking career – which turned the dial. 'Gai spoke up on social media nearly straight away, so you knew immediately that she was against it,' said Vicky Leonard, a member of the Save Rosehill group of trainers, owners and breeders, which challenged the sale process. 'Obviously Gai got up at that [forum] and was fairly aggressive, and she doesn't mince her words. 'But a lot of people didn't realise how upset Chris was until then. He's a very considered person, and he's also got a very close relationship to V'landys. So to have him speak out against anything that PVL endorses is pretty rare. That's why it was quite staggering.' Plans were then in their infancy, and it showed. Waller, whose stables are at Rosehill, reportedly said in a prepared statement that the designs presented looked like they had 'just been whipped up overnight'. The reception set the tone for what was to come, with opponents of the sale seizing on uncertainty over what the Sydney racing landscape would look like without Rosehill, and other unanswered questions. A split on the ATC board and a public slanging match between McGauran and vice-chair Tim Hale over what price the track could fetch was another setback, as was a referral to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, even though it quickly dismissed concerns over Minns' dealings with race club official and long-time friend Steve McMahon. Loading An entrenched distrust of racing's institutions also played its part in the 'No' vote win, as did the timing issues faced because of the urgency of deciding while a station could still be built on the new Sydney Metro West line. While the vote was twice delayed, proponents of the sale recovered ground in the weeks in the run-up to Tuesday's finish line as the ATC finally settled on a way forward. Warwick Farm Racecourse would be redeveloped into a top-line metropolitan track at a cost of $800 million, and a golf course at Penrith would be converted into a fourth track for the city. A loyalty scheme in which members would have their fees waived and receive $1000 food and drink credits for five years also seemed to hit the right note, despite being derided by opponents as a bid to buy votes. A new 'lifestyle club' was also to be built at Randwick. 'There is a demographic that exclusively uses Randwick and they're probably younger … I think the free membership and the $1000 [credit] has resonated,' said former ATC chairman and Macquarie Group executive director Laurie Macri. 'I've spoken to a lot of members … I was at dinner the other night with four of my mates, and they were all voting 'No'. But between the four of them, they had six kids, all under 30, all live in eastern suburbs, and five had voted 'Yes' and one had voted 'No'. ' Prominent industry figures such as trainer Richard Freedman and Charles Kelly of leading horse stud Newhaven Park also publicly backed it this month, and V'landys moved to allay fears that Racing NSW would scoop up the proceeds. In the end, it wasn't quite enough. Those who pushed for the sale point the finger at vested interests and misinformation for bringing it undone. Loading The role of Waterhouse, who fought it tooth and nail despite her bookmaker husband Robbie offering up land in western Sydney for a new track, was also significant. McGauran admits the lack of detail provided to members until last month wounded the Yes cause but says it was the 'nature of the beast'. 'Unfortunately, because it was an unsolicited proposal process, everything was back to front,' he said. 'It was a land deal, so we couldn't talk about it until the deal was done. 'We had nothing to show for months except those basic drawings. It was always the cart before the horse. I would have loved to have spent months planning it down to its final detail and then releasing it to members, but it was never possible under the confidential negotiations with the government.' While Minns' housing solution is out the window, racing will go on, the grandstands populated during carnival time and mostly empty at others. With the ATC reliant on Racing NSW for top-ups from betting revenue, tired facilities in need of a revamp and McGauran worried about the sport's declining social standing, the question for Sydney racing is whether it will regret knocking back a so-called deal of a lifetime. The members, however, have spoken. As they say, that's racing.
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘My views are quite the opposite': Trainer Chris Waller distances himself from controversial letter to NSW racing minister David Harris
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller has written to Racing Minister David Harris clarifying his position about a controversial industry letter raising concerns about Racing NSW while hinting at criticism of its chief executive Peter V'landys. Waller wrote an email to the racing minister effectively distancing himself from the letter sent to the racing minister on April 14 by owner-breeder Julia Ritchie from the 'Save Rosehill' group which called for an independent review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act due to an 'erosion of trust in the governance structures currently in place'. The names of 27 prominent racing identities – including Waller – were on the letter but Sydney's premier trainer said in the email: 'I wish to make it absolutely clear I did not sign any such letter, nor do I support the sentiment it implies. In fact, my views are quite the opposite.'' In Waller's email, he described V'landys as 'an extraordinary administrator, arguably the best the sport has seen' after overseeing the remarkable transformation of the NSW racing industry in recent years. 'My greatest concern is that any proposed changes could destabilise the current moment and leave Racing NSW vulnerable at a time when all sports are facing significant challenges,'' he wrote. Waller told the minister he did have concerns about the proposal to sell Rosehill racecourse, where he has his stable base, for $5 billion to make way for a new suburb with up to 25,000 homes. 'While I understand the potential of this helping alleviate the housing shortage in Sydney, I question whether it will truly result in affordable housing,'' Waller said. 'More importantly, I question how a comparable track to Rosehill can be rebuilt without losing its critical metropolitan footprint.'' A spokesman for Harris said the 'Minister for Gaming and Racing previously committed to commencing a review into the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1196 this year, as the Act had not been reviewed since 2014'. 'The purpose of the review is to determine whether the Act is still fit for purpose,'' the spokesman said. 'We will follow the usual processes in conducting the review. Further information about the review, including its scope and timing, will be made available in due course.' â– â– â– â– â– EXPECT slot movement for The Everest to start gaining momentum if Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising extends his winning streak in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday. Ka Ying Rising has been the long-time favourite for the $20 million The Everest and if he can win his 12th race in succession in the Chairman's Sprint Prize – and he is at virtually unbackable odds to do so – then it is likely he will soon be confirmed as an Everest starter. "It is madness" David Hayes is eager to run Ka Ying Rising at Flemington if he wins The Everest, but Racing Victoria’s vet protocols could get in the way of that happening. @TheNoochHS @AlexJDonnelly — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) April 25, 2025 Private Harry, the unbeaten winner of the Group 1 The Galaxy, is the only sprinter locked in for The Everest, run at Royal Randwick in October. But there is speculation slot-holders are close to locking in Group 1 winners Briasa (TJ Smith Stakes) and Jimmysstar (Oakleigh Plate, All Aged Stakes). "If he is better than $1.20, then back him." David Hayes had to endure a few nervous moments before Ka Ying Rising drew perfectly for Sunday’s Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize. — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) April 25, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– MR BRIGHTSIDE can take his earnings to nearly $20 million if he can win the Group 1 Champions Mile at the Sha Tin meeting. The Team Hayes -trained Mr Brightside is the fourth highest prizemoney earner of all-time in Australian racing with $17,382,902. If he wins in Hong Kong, the gelding will take his overall career earnings to $19,974,902. Only three horses have broken the $20 million barrier – mighty mare Winx with a record $26,451,175, Bella Nipotina ($22,757,625) and Nature Strip ($20,755,018). Part-owner Michael Andreadis, who once tried to split his share in Mr Brightside after a deflating maiden defeat, will break with tradition when the champion gelding races in Hong Kong on Sunday. @gilbertgardiner @lindsayparkrace @HKJC_Racing — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) April 24, 2025 Mr Brightside, who has won 19 of his 43 starts, is aiming for a 10th Group 1 win and endorse his champion status against an outstanding field that includes Hong Kong's Voyage Bubble and Doncaster Mile runner-up Royal Patronage, who is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. It's been nearly 10 years since an Australian-trained horse won a Group 1 race in Hong Kong – and that was the freakish effort by the Team Hawkes stable's 'grey flash' Chautauqua in the 2016 Chairman's Sprint Prize.
