Don't sell Ascot, now we want to sell Belmont

DamienWyer · June 2015

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/28541238/ascot-track-better-bet-barnett/

If this saga was in print, you wouldn't know if it was fact or fiction.

What a stunning waste of the last few years.

GLAMOUR · June 2015

Anyone could have told them that years ago that they would prefer Ascot.

RIO · June 2015

It was the best deal they were every going to get...but sparkle eyes Ted and his troop of gay warriors were far to smart to be conned into selling Belmont and getting upgrades to Ascot plus a brand new multi purpose facility in the outer suburbs

Instead they have waited until they realised the pittance they got from a private contractor to sell all the developable land around Belmont was not even enough to build a new grandstand - let alone upgrade Ascot and develop Belmont to its fullest - they now are in a perilous situation of having decisions forced upon them when they are not in any financial or Community supported position to oppose any "suggestions" on what is best going forward.

I cant wait for the bronze statue of TED the conqueror to go up at the front gate of the new track to support City racing in the back blocks of Beverly (only 90km's form the CBD). Cos I'll be the first to **** on it, spew on it and poke the eyes out with a screwdriver.

City Racing - Such a great, proud industry of the past, being dragged down to the pathetic level of community and industry support it has now. My Grandparents be rolling in their graves. =(( :-?? (:|

RIO · June 2015

The development of Belmont has grown on me over the pat 3-4yrs and I hope we still go that way.. Massive potential for the club and that riverside community that is developing. But when push comes to shove we really cant afford to do Ascot and Belmont.. My opinion is that moving to 1 track at Belmont and another multi purpose center in the southern corridor would service the needs of racing for many years.. And by multi purpose I mean Training, Trialing, Stables and Residential area, Subsidized Lease Stables, all in the one tenement.

Piston_Broke · June 2015

wasn't that Lark Hill was built for?

Ascot won't be going anywhere in our lifetime

RIO · June 2015

agree PB...but I reckon build a whole new track...and then when finished sell off Lark Hill as well.

2 city tracks are unsustainable and catering for less than 2000 people a week to enjoy the experience!! Well no government would contribute the millions required to have both at a high standard...let alone at this crappy standard.

No idea which one is best to get rid off - well I have an opinion but it's not locked in concrete as the only answer - but the sooner that hard decision is made the sooner we can move on to making it work.

paraletic · June 2015

They would have squandered millions on plans and design consultants over the years with belmont. What a waste of money

thefalcon · June 2015

THEY should be held accountable....THEY have been totally derelict in their actions.

wedge · June 2015

the falcon said:
THEY should be held accountable....THEY have been totally derelict in their actions.

not so sure. had the property market punched up the same as sydney then the sentiment would be significant different.

systemic risk is just that

primemover · June 2015

IMHO, Whiteman Park would be an ideal area to build another training and racing setup,in a few years that area will be central to everything; the way the Northern Corridor is expanding. As for selling off Ascot or Belmont.I would be leaning to keep Ascot and turn it into a day night Track. Only my Opinion.( Start Shooting me down)

RIO · June 2015

there are lots of options pm....but they all need financial support from the government and the city club has not endeared itself to the government over the past decade.

My belief is just make the decision, not everyone is going to love it, so get on with developing a new center..Once again you wont keep everyone happy, but just do it, support it financially (via government) and make the change

jum · June 2015

Imagine Night Racing at Ascot on a warm Saturday Afternoon/Night.
\:D/

paraletic · June 2015

prime mover said:
IMHO, Whiteman Park would be an ideal area to build another training and racing setup,in a few years that area will be central to everything; the way the Northern Corridor is expanding. As for selling off Ascot or Belmont.I would be leaning to keep Ascot and turn it into a day night Track. Only my Opinion.( Start Shooting me down)

I like the idea about Whiteman Park but the tree huggers and do gooders would never let it see the light of day. Not the greatest for public transport either.

Aquanita · June 2015

Public transport will improve with the considerable development in the area.

Besides who uses public transport to go to the races in Perth, very few I would suggest.

primemover · June 2015

jum said:
Imagine Night Racing at Ascot on a warm Saturday Afternoon/Night.
\:D/

I never mentioned Sat.arvo,I lived and worked in HK for 12 months.they start the races there at 7:30pm and race till around 11:pm, and you would not get a more steamier place.So dont think the heat in Perth would bother the horses at that time of night,more to the point people especialy young people will go as long as there is an atmospere about the place.ATM the racecourses are dead, the powers to be need to get out of there Glass Castle and take a good hard look at where racing is going in this State (City that is) Provincial Clubs Know how to attract people. The mob that are there now PR, are driving them away,in droves.

Bucks · June 2015

I don’t understand Collins logic.

“But Mr Barnett repeated his view that he did not believe racing could sustain two inner-city tracks and dangled the prospect of investing some proceeds from the sale of the TAB into a new facility in the outer suburbs if the industry sold one track.”

But Collin how would it be cheaper to build a new facility when we already have a functioning track that’s owned outright. You still have to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of 2 tracks! What difference (financially) does it make whether or not the second track is located in the city or the country/outer suburbs?

Perth Racing make most of their money from people betting, eating and drinking on course. Moving the track from Belmont to the outer suburbs would dramatically affect attendance numbers. Besides we have plenty of provincial tracks already why would we want/need another one.

The Belmont grandstand needs to be scaled back in order to make it feasible. Get rid of the 2000m double height function room that will only be used 4-5 times a year (if you’re lucky). If you want to hold a function you can do it in the members area. Reduce the jockeys and stewards room from 500m down to 100m as I’m sure that’s about all the space they are operating in now. Reduce the roof top bar down from 1000m to 200m (about the same size as the aviary in the city). That’s 3,200m less area @ around $4,000/m = $12.8 million back in your pocket.

watchingu · June 2015

Colin does`nt understand Colin`s logic , i last read a little while ago where he said the TAB is struggling because no one goes to the Races .... please explain Mr Rubble ?

What are Agencies , Phone / Internet Accounts for Colin ? .......

jum · June 2015

prime mover said:

jum said:
Imagine Night Racing at Ascot on a warm Saturday Afternoon/Night.
\:D/
I never mentioned Sat.arvo,I lived and worked in HK for 12 months.they start the races there at 7:30pm and race till around 11:pm, and you would not get a more steamier place.So dont think the heat in Perth would bother the horses at that time of night,more to the point people especialy young people will go as long as there is an atmospere about the place.ATM the racecourses are dead, the powers to be need to get out of there Glass Castle and take a good hard look at where racing is going in this State (City that is) Provincial Clubs Know how to attract people. The mob that are there now PR, are driving them away,in droves.</blockqu

Naturally the heat would not bother the horses if they are racing during the hottest part of the day usually, then night racing is going to be cooler.
I could think of nothing better, than to go to the races at night. It would be great entertainment.
But you could start around 5 pm and finish around 9.30. Catering set up similar to Mandurah greyhounds.
Then every fortnight hire some top end Bands and let the party kick on.
There would be endless marketing avenues the turf club could go down to bring the crowds back.

jum · June 2015

^^^^^^^
Don't know what happened there.
My post was not having a dig PM. I would love night racing in WA

FreoHitman · June 2015

IMHO Both Belmont & Ascot must stay.
Summer Carnivals at Ascot is the best time of the year ...But I believe with correct marketing and Football & cricket coming to Belmont Parks doorstep in the next 2 years may well be a Goose nesting ready to lay golden eggs for the industry , With correct programming , PR should be angling to the punters who are going to the footy for somewhere to stop before the big game , for me its a no brainer personally . If Perth Racing can not increase on course attendances by 500% we truly know people are asleep at the wheel.
Even the very bare minimum of selling PR memberships for non racing people to use the parking facility should be looked into

G'day Punter!

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Don't sell Ascot, now we want to sell Belmont

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