No more cars at Pukekohe

[flyingduck]

Does this spell the end of racing at Pukekohe. In the article it states that after this year V8 race that Pukekohe was to become a horse only track.

Race clubs at odds over V8s at Pukekohe

05.05.05



By Mike Dillon


The Auckland Racing Club has issued a writ in the High Court against the Counties Racing Club allowing the V8 Supercars to race at Pukekohe next year.

The ARC is upset that the Counties club is hoping to stage the event which the ARC says contravenes a deal between the two clubs.

The clubs went into partnership to create a state of the art racehorse training centre at Pukekohe in the wake of the closure of the Takanini training track this year.

The ARC pledged $2.2 million on the understanding that the Supercars last month would be the last at the venue. Pukekohe was to become a horse-only facility.

The Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (Avesco) has tried to relocate the New Zealand leg of the series. Wellington is the likely new venue, but consent cannot be gained in time for next year.

The ARC is upset at reports that the CRC has had talks with Avesco for one more running of the series at Pukekohe.

The CRC does not accept that it gave assurances there would be no more car racing at Pukekohe Park.

ARC chairman Lyn Stevens told the Herald yesterday that his club was vitally interested in the health of the racing industry.

"We were promised there would be no more cars and understandably we are concerned the club has been in discussion with Avesco."

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chairman Guy Sargent was yesterday attempting mediation. "The central issue is that both these clubs are in agreement to turn [Pukekohe] into a top-notch training facility."

Stevens said the clubs had been in negotiation since the writ was issued last week.


This was in the New Zealand herald today

[retro]

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdeta...?storyID=72130

Threat to Pukekohe V8 Supercars
5/05/2005 14:00:02


The Auckland Racing Club has threatened to issue a writ against the Counties Racing Club allowing the V8 Supercars to race at Pukekohe next year.


The ARC is building a horse-only facility at Pukekohe and pledged more than $2 million on the understanding last month's Supercars' race would be the last held there.


However, with a Wellington race unlikely to go ahead next year, Pukekohe is likely to host the event again.


Auckland Racing Club CEO Chris Weaver says horses will be stabled at the venue, making for a potentially dangerous situation.


He says they are disappointed they were not consulted when Pukekohe was offered up for next year.


Weaver says they would like to have been notified before discussions with AVESCO had begun.


However, he hopes they can resolve the situation amicably.


He says if the horses can be protected and looked after, then they maybe able to find some neutral ground and hold the V8's at Pukekohe.


Weaver says they need to protect the owners' and trainers' investment.


Chris Weaver says the writ has not been served in the High Court yet and they are entering mediation with the Counties Racing Club.

[Evomike]

Well, well, it now seems that what some of us thought all along that Puke was gone and the Horse Racing fraternity wanted it buried was correct.

[racer69]

Slightly off topic, but is the Pukekohe 'long' circuit still used? It involved a sharp left hander halfway through the turn 1 sweeper.

[carbontub]

It isnt used anymore it is now the support paddock when the supercars are over.

[Rombles1]

So, the money spent re-surfacing was a good investment, eh bro?