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News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Defining moment for racing in Sydney and NSW as Rosehill sale vote revealed by Australian Turf Club
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. 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.'' • 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: — 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.
Motor 1
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
This Groundbreaking Porsche Prototype Is For Sale Now
Well, you don't see one of these every day: The very first Porsche 910 ever built—a prototype and hillclimb racer from Stuttgart's most romantic era—is up for auction. You can check out the bidding here on Bring a Trailer . Why should you care? Well, maybe you're one of the many well-heeled billionaire playboys who seem to fill our comment section with expertise these days, in which case, you'll want to be clued in to Blue Chip investments like this one. Photo by: Bring a Trailer Aside from that, the Porsche 910 just plain rocks. This particular car bridged Porsche from a fledgling builder of sports and race cars to a domineering force in both categories. While the 910 evolved from other mid-engine closed-cockpit prototypes like the 904, this car bridged the gap between those mid-Sixties efforts to cars like the 917, which is arguably the most important endurance-racing prototype of all time. This particular car was the first 910 ever built, as mentioned, emblazoned with the chassis number "910001," but also comes with considerable palmarès. Those include a class win and fourth overall at the 1000km of Monza in 1968, followed by conversion for street use and a laundry list of race history as the car passed from one privateer to the next. Indeed, this 910 has lived a fuller life than most. Photo by: Bring a Trailer Photo by: Bring a Trailer Early examples of the 910 were powered by variants of the 2.0-liter flat-six you'd find in competition 911s of the era. While the later 910s eventually moved on to flat-eight powerplants better suited to endurance racing, I can tell you from experience that no Porsche sounds better or revs sweeter than these early 2.0-liter cars with the lightweight magnesium engine case. Something about that material and displacement specifically—some magic resonance or characteristic frequency—makes this Porsche's GOAT powertrain from an experiential standpoint, in my opinion. Photo by: Bring a Trailer Plus, just look at this thing. Following a restoration specifically aimed at prepping this car for FIA historic racing, you get all the authentic visual touches backed by the confidence to actually go out and use this thing, share its glorious ear-shattering song with other enthusiasts. At the time of writing, there are three days left on the auction and it's already passed $1.3 million. I'm not terribly obsessed with auction results; Honestly, speculation has cratered the classic car market for the everyman, but it's cool to see these gems unearthed from time to time, if only as an opportunity to dig into their histories. The Latest From Porsche The Porsche 911 GT2 RS Might Be Back as a Hybrid Is Porsche Delaying The Electric 718 and Three-Row SUV? Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
City of Albuquerque purchases old Unser family home, seeks input on what to do with it
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It's a piece of history along Route 66 that the city just couldn't pass up. The property on Central Ave. and Unser Blvd. might not look like much at first, but it houses Albuquerque's history. 'The Central and Unser property is, was the former home of Bobby Unser, who was, you know, part of the Unser racing family, legends of Albuquerque,' said Shelle Sanchez, Director of the City of Albuquerque's Arts and Culture Department. Story continues below Food: Albuquerque shop makes 'Top 50 Donuts' list on Yelp Trending: New Mexico's largest electricity provider is raising its rate in 2025, 2026 Events: What's happening around New Mexico May 16-22: Boots In The Park and more News: Jemez Springs prepares for overhaul of sewage collection system after overflow spill Three-time Indy 500 champion and racing legend, Bobby Unser, died at 87 years old in 2021. It was the Unser family who then offered the at least four-acre property to the city. 'It was important to the Unser family that this property really benefit the city,' said Sanchez. The city bought the property for $2.2 million, calling it a major investment. 'Because of the really important cultural history, you know, the racing history in New Mexico, our car culture, also the location is really important for the city and hour we develop,' said Sanchez. 'The Unser family's impact on racing is legendary and their story deeply rooted in Albuquerque,' said District 3 City Councilor Klarissa Peña in a news release. 'For generations, the Unser legacy and racing history called our city home. Purchase of the Unser property provides a perfect opportunity for us to commemorate and honor the Unser spirit of innovation.' 'We're creating more spaces where future generations can connect to our city's unique history, vibrant culture, and families like the Unsers who shaped it,' said Mayor Tim Keller in a news release. 'This project is about honoring our roots and working hand in hand with the community to carry that legacy forward.' Right now, the city does not have a master plan for the space, but is committed to preserving certain parts of it. 'There's a very important piece of history right there, which is the Unser's family garage and kind of repair shop that sits right there on Route 66,' said Sanchez. The city is now looking to the public for their ideas on how to utilize the space. 'We don't want to rush into anything. When you have such a big opportunity, you need to make the most of it,' said Sanchez. A public input session is scheduled for June 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Central & Unser Library, where residents can share ideas on what to do with the site. People can RSVP here. Additional input sessions will be announced later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
