FAQs | Facilities Master Plan

Q: Why has the Board of WTR resolved to progress towards the purchase of a Greenfields site instead of developing what we already have?

To:

• create a fit-for-purpose venue designed for training and racing
• bring the expertise and strength of the local racing fraternity together in a centralised location
• provide a 'super hub' for other horse-related activities and users
• enable the local racing industry to be more streamlined, competitive and future focused

Also - under current financial modelling, it is the most viable option.

In the merger agreement of August 2023 it was agreed to investigate the best long-term solution for sustainable and quality racing training and facilities in the Waikato.
 
This decision was off the back of the Messara report [see Q16] and an independent assessment of options.
 
Considerations were:

• the financial operation of the current three sites meets day-to-day costs but not any major facility upgrade or replacement costs 
• a future Greenfield site is the only realistic option for the total operation including facility upgrades to be self-sustaining
• training at Cambridge gets much more difficult (and not suitable for the long term) as new housing developments get closer. 

Options considered under the feasibility study were:

1. Greenfields racing and training 
2. Racing at Te Rapa and Greenfields training
3. Racing at Te Rapa and Greenfields training at Waipa
4. Racing at Te Rapa and training at Cambridge long-term (status quo)

The three existing sites would be sold – for residential/industrial developments – over the next 8-12 years.

Summary of existing sites

• Te Rapa Racecourse 50 ha (approx.)
• Cambridge Racecourse 61 ha (approx.)
• Waipa Racecourse 34 ha (approx.)

Further information on this process will be available at a proposed SGM in September/October 2025.

• Can deliver fit-for purpose facilities (into the long term)
• The most financially viable
• Enables the total operation (including ancillary services like farriers and vets) to be future-proofed
• Can have a modern functions and events centre as part of the development
• Brings the expertise and strength of the local racing fraternity together into a centralised location

This will be dependent on available land but not less than 125 ha, to also allow sufficient land for trainers and other relevant activities to co-locate.

Not yet.  This is not likely to happen until a shortlist of possible options is considered in the first half of 2025.

WTR is running an open process to find the best local opportunity for a Greenfields option and have engaged Bayleys to lead this process.

Please advise WTR CEO, Andrew Castles if you are aware of any potential sites for possible investigation.

The preference is the new site will be somewhere in a triangle between Hamilton, Te Awamutu and Cambridge; close to good transport links, the right kind of topography (flat but not peaty) and good access to water.

Yes, the current intent is to allow trainers to either hire facilities for their use or to lease or potentially purchase land.

There will also be the opportunity for ancillary businesses to be based on site or to lease or potentially purchase land for co-location. 

The current financial modelling has been based on a sand-based grass track, but the next phase will further investigate a Strath Ayr track option. 

Yes, current planning has been based on the continued provision of a synthetic racing and training track. 

Due to commercial sensitivity we are unable to be specific about costs at this time.

However, the Greenfield site will require all three current sites to be sold in a staged process.   For example, as the Te Rapa and Cambridge sites have to remain in use until  the new facility is operational, sale and purchase agreements would not be put in place before then. 

The current programme of work is aiming to have a new operational site ready by 2035.

The next stage will require the PCG to derisk the project financially.  There is much work to do in this space with the viability of the project resting on finding a solution to any identified funding deficit.

Waikato Thoroughbred Racing will work with NZTR to review the industry’s short and medium term requirements for the Waipa racecourse.

Subject to racing industry requirements, the Waipa site would be sold at the most advantageous time prior to the Greenfields opening. 

Training at Cambridge is likely to be required until about 2035.

The current training pool at Cambridge is very old and poorly located. Various options for a new pool will be investigated.

NZTR has already taken a major lead with their active involvement in this feasibility process from the outset – their representative, Dean McKenzie, has been a key member of the Project Control Group (PCG) to date. 

Much of the early feasibility costs have also been met by the TAB Rejuvenation Fund. 
A NZTR representative is being invited to be an ongoing Project Control Group member.

A Greenfields site for the Waikato would be consistent with the recommendation of the Messara report.  

The Messara Report (2018) was commissioned by the Government and was an independent assessment of the state of the domestic racing industry and made recommendations for change.  This included support for proposals that would drive the changes to build a sustainable future for the racing industry.

This Greenfields development is one of the largest to ever be undertaken by the industry and arguably one of the most important. It will require substantive financing and will realistically require a whole-of-industry approach involving NZTR, other major racing industry participants and also central government support.

Preliminary discussions have occurred with Council planning staff regarding the future residential development of the current sites and there do not appear to be any barriers to the proposed directions. 

Further discussions will occur with Councils over this next 12 months. 

The WTR Board will make a recommendation to the WTR membership for their consideration at a Special General Meeting in September/October 2025.

Publicly available information regarding the project will be available on WTR’s website. Any further specific enquiries should be directed to WTR CEO, Andrew Castles - 021 384 289.

The racing industry in the Waikato region is responsible for generating more than $505.3 million in value added contribution to Gross Domestic Product. 

This equates to 26.9% of the total impact generated by the New Zealand Racing Industry.

The economic impact generated by the racing industry in this region is responsible for sustaining a total of 3,812 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the region.

There are more than 6,200 roles occupied in the racing industry in Waikato.

Race meetings in the Waikato region attracted attendances of 65,930 or 10.3% of total attendances at race meetings in New Zealand.

*these figures include ALL of Waikato racing – not just WTR venues.  There are a total of seven (7) racing clubs operating in the region, five (5) of which are Thoroughbred clubs, one (1) Harness club and one (1) Greyhound racing club.