By Stephen Linnell
ONE of Australia’s leading racing identities could become Werribee racetrack’s white knight.
The Werribee Racing Club has been in confidential discussions with champion trainer David Hayes, who is believed to be close to committing funds to upgrade the track in return for use of the venue as a major training base.
With its proximity to Melbourne, Werribee offers trainers an ideal base to prepare and train horses.
“He’s looking at Werribee and Seymour,” club chief executive David Horsburgh told Star.
Mr Hayes told the Herald-Sun: “Werribee would be conditional on a long-term lease.
“If I got that, I would put a track in and have an agreement with Werribee about racing there.”
Mr Hayes would be keen to seek a long-term lease and Mr Horsburgh said he did not believe that would be a problem.
Werribee needs about $4 million to upgrade the racetrack before racing can resume at the venue.
Under the Hayes plan, the leading trainer would commit funds to improve and upgrade the track in return for a long term lease.
Meanwhile, Werribee’s Heritage Recovery Association has begun moves to try to register the venue with Heritage Victoria in a move that would potentially thwart any plans to turn it into a housing estate.
“The group is confident the racetrack meets the requirements for a heritage overlay.
“It’s a site of historical significance.
“The racecourse has been there for more than 100 years.
“It’s a local icon.
“It’s part of Werribee’s early history,” spokesman John Brodel said.
“Nobody wants it to be a housing estate.
“We need open space in Werribee, not more houses,” said racing club vice-chairman Chris Byrne.
The WRC committee met last week and unanimously voted to reject relocation and pursue all options to reconstruct its track and continue racing.
The committee also agreed to pursue an expression of interest from a “leading racing identity” to establish training facilities at the track.
From Page 1.
Mr Byrne said: “The committee is acting in the best interests of its members and the community who have overwhelmingly expressed their desire for racing and the racing club to continue at the current location.
“The club has been around for 147 years and that makes it an important part of the fabric of the City of Wyndham. We have the total support of the community and we are determined to continue.
“The reconstruction of the track and establishment of a training facility will bring enormous economic benefits to the City Of Wyndham.
“It will create jobs and allow the continued use of the facility by community groups and maintain the area as open space rather than some people’s vision of another housing estate.”
There has been no racing at Werribee since November when jockeys deemed the track to be unsafe.
It requires a $4 million upgrade before racing will return. This year’s Werribee Cup will be held at Geelong.
“The course was originally donated by the Chirnside family for the use of racing and recreation,” Mr Byrne said.
“We’re custodians of the raceclub and we have to do the right thing by what our members want and what the people of Werribee want.”
Mr Hayes did not return Star’s phone calls.
