Dear Member,

Over the last year I have written to you many times and reiterated that my Board and I are committed to communicating openly and honestly with you about all major decisions relating to your Club.

As you will have seen and heard today, Minister Kevin Greene, on behalf of the NSW Government, announced a package of potential reforms for the benefit of the NSW racing industry.

The key elements of the announcement are:
a. The Sydney Turf Club (merged Club) will receive $24 million to upgrade facilities and tracks at Rosehill Gardens.
b. The AJC (merged Club) will receive $150 million to refurbish grandstands and event facilities for Members and patrons at Royal Randwick; and
c. This offer from the Government is entirely contingent upon the merger of the AJC and STC.

Both Bill Picken, Chairman of the STC and I have made it very clear to Minister Greene that the view of our members is vital and that this decision must be endorsed by you. We have received confirmation today that he agrees with us, and we will soon be calling on Members to vote on this potential reform package.

The Merger Benefits Team (MBT) including members of the AJC, STC, Racing NSW and the NSW Government have been working tirelessly to understand what the true risks and benefits of merger are for our businesses, our Members, our patrons and other participants.

Having analysed the risks and benefits we both believe that accepting the Government’s potential reform package will best position Sydney racing to deliver growth and sustainability.

The investment that the AJC and STC may receive will put Sydney racing where it belongs – front and centre on the world stage! The merged Club, with four exciting modern venues, in the view of your Board, would become one of the best multi-venue racing businesses globally.

Both the AJC Board and STC Board have unanimously endorsed the NSW Government proposal as the right way to secure the future of racing.

To provide you with some insight into what the $150 million will potentially be spent on at Royal Randwick, we have included some images below.
 

Grandstand investment:
• Deliver world class spectator, dining and entertainment facilities for racing and events;
• Increase seating capacity in the QEII and Paddock Grandstand by 112 per cent – from the current 6,695 to 14,205;
• Include new corporate boxes and a range of event lounges;
• See 70 per cent of the facility enclosed to protect spectators from wind and rain;
• Be constructed with flexible floor plates and configurations that will enable the facility to host a number of multi-purpose events; and
• The new facility will meet the latest Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) benchmarks.
 

‘Theatre of the Horse’:
• A new multi-purpose parade ring located at the ‘back’ of the new grandstands;
• 4,500 seating capacity that will allow the public to get a ‘front seat’ race day experience;
• Vastly improved facilities for Owners, Jockeys, Trainers and Officials; and
• Feature both indoor and outdoor dining and bar areas.

It is also the AJC’s intention to build a new state-of-the-art stable complex. This project is subject to funding and commercial negotiations with trainers.
 

$50 million new Stabling Complex:
• 600 new stables in a state-of-the-art two story complex on the ‘Mile’ side of the track;
• Once complete, all horses trained at Randwick will be located on course – removing the current problem of horses having to cross local streets to enter the course;
• Will secure Royal Randwick as a premier training venue – helping to ensure trainers and the workers they employ remain here at a time they are being targeted by interstate industries;
• The consolidation of stables into one precinct will make it safer and more convenient for trainers, strappers and specialist workers such as veterinarians, farriers etc. This will in turn generate operating cost savings:
• The site will include horse walkers, equine pool, tunnel access to track ample car parking and loading bays;
• Facility will include cross flow ventilation for horses and staff; and the
• Complex will meet the latest ESD benchmarks.

As you can see there are some extremely exciting opportunities available to the AJC, it’s Members and the broader racing community if the package of reforms is endorsed by Members.
 

We do not believe the decision to merge would limit the AJC’s plans to rejuvenate Warwick Farm, which your Board and many of you are passionate about. We will also work though the proposed reform steering committee (similarly constituted to the MBT) to ensure our history, brand and archives are appropriately honored and hopefully enhanced.

An extraordinary general meeting of Members will be arranged on an urgent basis, where all financial Members will have the opportunity to discuss the potential reform package and vote on a resolution proposed by your Board.

Your Board intends to unanimously recommend the potential reform package to Members.

We undertake to keep you well informed and will, in a few short days, be establishing web based and physical displays, forums and presentations to help Members in their decision making, in advance of our formal meeting.

We would welcome your feedback at members@royalrandwick.com.

Yours sincerely,

RON FINEMORE, AO, Chairman, 

JOHN CORNISH, Vice Chairman