NEWCASTLE Jockey Club is set to lose two prime Saturday race meetings in a move that could prove a financial disaster for the club.
NJC officials were shocked when Racing NSW issued the first draft of dates for the upcoming season late on Friday.
Gosford has been granted the Saturday meeting over Newcastle on February 9 next year.
But there is also a question mark over Newcastle’s meeting on Saturday, January 26, because Wyong has a three-year deal with the Provincial Racing Association to race on Australia Day no matter what day it falls on.
Wyong officials have described the scheduling of the Australia Day meeting for Newcastle as ‘‘an oversight’’.
The NJC and the Illawarra Turf Club have for decades been the only two of the five provincial clubs which share Saturday meetings.
‘‘The last thing we want is to lose Saturday dates,’’ NJC chief executive officer Cameron Williams said.
‘‘You don’t put up your hand to lose Saturdays.’’
Newcastle, which has sustained financial losses in recent years, has also been hit by the closure of Broadmeadow for 10 weeks because of safety issues.
‘‘Yes, it is disappointing, and only those in power know why the change has been made,’’ Williams said.
‘‘It is only the first draft of dates, but we have lost one and probably two.
‘‘I will be taking it further, obviously, but it is hard to think that the dates we lost will be replaced now.’’
Williams said he would be asking for quid pro quo.
‘‘We will be asking for something in return,’’ Williams said.
‘‘If we lose these meetings, then surely we can expect a kickback.’’
The February date has been replaced by a Sunday, which have been a disaster at Broadmeadow compared with Saturday racing.
‘‘Saturday is a favourable race date for us, not only because of the racing but also functions,’’ Williams said.
‘‘It is Saturday when the corporate dollar is spent at Newcastle.
‘‘Most of our sponsors prefer having their functions at the track on a Saturday.
‘‘If we lose Saturday meetings, we lose momentum.
‘‘We have big plans here at Newcastle and Saturday race dates feature prominently in our plans.
‘‘We now have a you-beaut track that is racing so well and we don’t want to have to lose the chance of using it on a Saturday.’’
Gosford, which is now a Saturday provincial venue on February 9 next year, has been campaigning vigorously for the chance to move from midweek dates.
Kembla Grange has also lost a Saturday meeting, to Hawkesbury.
Racing NSW will meet with the provincial association tomorrow week to discuss the first draft dates.
While Gosford has won the battle for a Saturday, it seems they have lost the war to stage a stand-alone Saturday meeting.
The club has petitioned Racing NSW to let it hold a $1million day on Saturday, November 24, this year.
Canterbury is scheduled to race on this date.
The Central Coast club had planned to run its four major listed races on the day.
It was hoping to have a stand-alone Saturday where it could showcase the Gosford Cup, Belle Of The Turf Stakes, Takeover Target and Gosford Guineas.
‘‘I was hoping for good news when the first draft of dates for the upcoming season was handed to us on Friday, but it was not to be,’’ Gosford chief James Heddo said.
‘‘Canterbury has been pencilled in for the Saturday date we were looking for.
‘‘I have sent emails to Peter V’Landys and Scott Kennedy of Racing NSW to see if we are now out of the picture as a possible stand-alone Saturday venue.
‘‘If that is so, then it is very disappointing.’’
Heddo said he was ‘‘pleased’’ to get the one Saturday provincial date.
‘‘We are hoping for more, but it is a start,’’ Heddo said.
‘‘We will make the day a success.’’
Wyong chief executive Tony Drew described his club’s failure to get the date to race on Australia Day next year as an ‘‘oversight’’.
Wyong is already planning a huge Australia Day race meeting.
It coincides with the 100-year anniversary of the current track on the Central Coast being commissioned.
The NJC has built its role as a top provincial club with 26 Saturday meetings a season.
‘‘We have an agreement with the provincial clubs to race on Australia Day and that deal is still current next year,’’ Drew said.
‘‘We have huge plans for the day and I will be bringing up the matter when the provincial clubs meet on Tuesday week.
‘‘I believe it is just an oversight.’’
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