Auckland thoroughbred racing bosses are confident they have the numbers to form a new super club in a merger crucial to the racing industry's future.
This week looms as one of the most important in New Zealand racing history as members of the Counties Racing Club and Auckland Racing Club will vote on whether they will merge to form Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, the name being given to the potential new entity.
Counties members will vote on whether to merge with the much larger Auckland club at a special meeting at their Pukekohe racetrack at 7pm tomorrow, and if they agree to go ahead, Ellerslie members will vote at their meeting at 4.30pm on Thursday.
If they merge, the new club will have considerable assets they can sell, lease or develop and expect to work closely with the Avondale Jockey Club, who are likely to stop racing at West Auckland in five years and move their activities to Ellerslie while retaining the club's identity.
The three clubs working together could eventually have over $250 million invested and enormously boost stakes in the northern area, with a goal to have an average stake of $100,000 per race at Ellerslie, which is almost certain to install a new StrathAyr track.