With large financial losses during the level 3 and 4 lockdowns the announcement on May 15 of 10 thoroughbred racing tracks to close and the prospects of up to 10 more in the future came as no great surprise to the racing industry but a huge shock to those named.
Waipurau and Wairoa are among the first list of 10 which includes Avondale Racing Club in West Auckland but Woodville has so far survived the cut.
Those listed to close will not be issued licences to operate for the next season starting August 1. They have until June 15 to consult with the industry.
According to Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club's secretary Paula McCool Woodville has provisionally been given four race-days for the next season, the first being October 6 named on the draft calendar.
Paula says the club will go all out to make it a memorable day with the naming of one of the races after Jack Harris, the legendary trainer from Woodville who passed away last week. She hopes his family will attend, bringing other well-known horse training sons Peter, Noel and Desi with them. "We have to be innovative," she said, "to show the NZ Thoroughbred Racing Industry we are worth saving." The club has turned a profit for the last five years.