Late on Wednesday, news broke of the imminent closure of the popular venue, which has hosted racing since 1885 and showcases major races like the G1 Golden Slipper S. and G1 Golden Rose S.
The Guardian reported that a memorandum of understanding between the New South Wales Government and the Australian Turf Club (ATC) will result in the latter developing the site into a 25,000-dwelling ‘mini city’, complete with a school and other infrastructure projects.
Veteran trainer Gerald Ryan spoke to The Thoroughbred Report in the hours following the news breaking, telling this publication that there are positives to be gleaned from the shock announcement.
“I reckon as much as I hate losing Rosehill, because I love Rosehill, as far as racing going forward, it’s terrific,” he said.
“I reckon as much as I hate losing Rosehill, because I love Rosehill, as far as racing going forward, it’s terrific.” - Gerald Ryan
“Now I’ve digested everything they put forward, I think it’s terrific, it’s progress.”
With the focus now shifting to Warwick Farm and Canterbury Park, Ryan weighed in on the topic of what to do with racing in Sydney’s west given there’s an end in sight for Rosehill.
“I’m not a big wrap on building grandstands and making them all pretty, I’m a big wrap for improving racecourses,” he said.
Gerald Ryan | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Asked what the future may look like for Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, he was adamant that the stable will push on despite losing their base, saying, “We’ll go, they’ll build us the complex at Horsley Park, which they said they’re going to do, we’ll keep going forward.”
Cherie Curtis, who trains in conjunction with her husband Lee, said to The Thoroughbred Report on Wednesday night, “It has come as a complete surprise today, my greatest concern is how the shutdown will affect our young family, having been here for 20 years and (being) well-settled in the community.”
According to a statement seen by The Thoroughbred Report, the deal will result in $5 billion of investment directly into the existing ATC portfolio, with the aim being to ‘future-proof’ the racing industry. ATC Chairman Peter McGauran, who has previously held roles such as the Chief Executive Officer of Racing Australia and the Federal Member for Gippsland, the latter an office he occupied for 25 years, had the following to say:
Peter McGauran | Image courtesy of the Australian Turf Club
“This future-proofs Sydney racing for a century to come.
“It will cement Sydney racing as the best, most modern and financially secure jurisdiction anywhere in the world.
“All of the NSW racing industry from the trainers, jockeys, stablehands, staff, to our members and all racegoers will reap the benefits.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure racing, along with the ATC contributing to the community and economy in helping to ease the housing shortage in Sydney.”
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure racing, along with the ATC contributing to the community and economy in helping to ease the housing shortage in Sydney.” - Peter McGauran
According to the same statement, monies raised by the ATC will go to a range of initiatives, in an attempt to minimise the impact of losing the near 150-year-old venue.
Plans to create a centre of excellence at Horsley Park have been floated, which is the expected destination for trainers currently utilising Rosehill.
Also documented are concepts for a new ‘world-class’ racecourse development at an unspecified location, as well as extensive redevelopments to Canterbury Park and Warwick Farm’s tracks, and increased stabling facilities at Royal Randwick.
The Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park
The statement outlines a timeline of racing and training to be removed from the venue by the “end of the decade,” giving participants a timeline of six years and one month for when the course will be closed for the final time.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has been searching for answers for a widening housing crisis, and told The Guardian of his belief that this development will benefit the current housing pressures, but also racing in the state.
“The ATC sees this as a chance to secure the future of racing in NSW,” Minns told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The government sees this as an opportunity to put its money where its mouth is and build more housing, close to transport links, with plenty of green space for new families.”
Chris Minns | Image courtesy of NSW Parliament
Standing firmly for 138 years, the imminent loss of Rosehill caused furious debate on social media, with a mix of skepticism over the proposed sale, as well as concern over the future of marquee races like the Golden Slipper and the G1 Tancred S., one of the key pillars of weight-for-age racing in Australia.
Currently scheduled to host eight Group 1 races across the 2024 calendar year, the venue also plays host to key events such as The Five Diamonds, The Golden Gift and The Golden Eagle, all of which offer lucrative prizemoney for connections to compete for.
