AN ambitious $3 million upgrade at Bathurst’s Tyers Park race track could attract bigger crowds and create opportunities for talented trainers to base their operations here, industry insiders say.
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Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing Club has lodged an 80-page submission with Bathurst Regional Council outlining its vision for a Strategic Racing Centre at Tyers Park, including plans to remodel the race track and install new stabling.
BTR is seeking financial and in-kind contributions from council to help fund the project, along with money from Racing NSW.
The club’s submission acknowledges council’s recent support of other local sporting organisations, including its role in relocating Bathurst Harness Racing Club to a new facility on College Road; constructing a $1.5 million world-class BMX track to attract the national titles; support for a new go-kart track on Mount Panorama; and ongoing lobbying to develop the Velocity Park motor industry hub.
It says BTR would like to work with council in a similar way to boost local thoroughbred racing.
“A better main race track will not on its own create depth in our fields nor increase our direct benefit to the local economy, but it is the crucial first step,” the submission states.
“The redevelopment of the training facilities (along with the operational/administrative enhancements that go with it) provides the essential horse numbers to underpin our field sizes whilst at the same time generating more starters for the metropolitan pool and creating direct expenditures … into the local economy.”
The submission also states that with the development of new stables at Tyers Park, “we cannot rule out successful existing stables also basing part of their operation at such an attractive facility”.
A report to councillors by corporate services and finance director Bob Roach recommends inviting BTR members to a working party in the new year with a view to considering the funding request as part of council’s 2016-17 budget plans.
“Councillors are reminded that during the relocation of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club, council became involved with this organisation in providing both the land and various components of their relocation to the new facility,” Mr Roach states in the report.
Councillors will consider the item at council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday.
