Racing SA’s recent acquisition of a small piece of land that sits alongside the Strathalbyn racetrack marks a big-picture approach for what lies ahead for racing in the state, as new CEO Nick Bawden begins his tenure.
Victoria Park and Cheltenham are fading memories. Homes have replaced stables that used to dominate the streets near Morphettville.
On face value, the urban contraction of the Adelaide thoroughbred industry could easily give the impression racing is going backwards in South Australia.
But times have changed - and with it so has the physical landscape accompanying South Australia’s relationship with racing.
In reality, new Racing SA chief executive Nick Bawden says the state’s thoroughbred industry is in a growth phase.
A horse population that continues to swell has delivered an increase in average field sizes and the better wagering figures that go with it.
According to Racing Australia data, SA had 14,566 starters in 2023/24 - up from 14,187 in 2022/23.
The state’s marquee races now have appropriate Group 1 purses thanks to a long-term partnership with corporate bookmaker Sportsbet.
And beyond the confines of the city, Racing SA has discovered new horizons: the latest a first for the regulator as it delves into the property game.
As such, Racing SA will prioritise an extensive redevelopment of the Strathalbyn racetrack after completing a real estate deal that promises to turn the region into a major training centre.
Buoyed by the success of its joint partnership with the Murray Bridge Racing Club in the $35 million Gifford Hill project, Racing SA says it now has an established blueprint to embark on further regional expansion.
Tim Rowe
Acquiring an 11ha parcel of land adjacent to the Strathalbyn Racing Club is the first step towards creating another training hub outside of Adelaide but Bawden says upgrading the racetrack is a prime concern.
Strathalbyn is closed for racing during winter and Bawden insists improvements to the racetrack will ease the burden on other South Australian clubs.
“There are two sides to the acquisition of the land for us,” Bawden told The Straight.
“We have the business component and the training component but the other side which is clearly critical for us is the track redevelopment.
“Strathalbyn generally goes offline to the industry from May until September, October. We need them online for 12 months of the year.
“With the strain on racetracks through the winter racing period we need access to as many surfaces as we can.
“And with the large field sizes we’ve got in South Australia, it’s critical that we share the load.”
With a population of about 6500 and an hour’s drive from Adelaide, Strathalbyn sits on the southeast fringes of the Adelaide Hills near the entrance to the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Besides the 34 racehorse trainers who use the Strathalbyn track, the region has strong links to the broader equine industry and Bawden says it makes strategic sense to tap into that connection.
“Strathalbyn is an equine area so access to a workforce with people who are used to handling horses should enable similar growth in numbers to what we have experienced at Murray Bridge,” he said.
Murray Bridge, 50kms down the road, is now home to 57 trainers with 157 horses using the racetrack’s training facilities daily and annual starters in 2023/2024 totalled 3600 compared to Strathalbyn’s 2400.
Before Murray Bridge became a state-of-the-art racing and training complex, it operated on much the same level as Strathalbyn.
“Essentially they were like-for-like,” Bawden said.
“So I think the model’s there to show that if the facilities can be made right, you can generate the growth.”
Racing SA chairman Rob Rorrison believes the Strathalbyn project, while still in its conceptual stage, has the potential to further secure the state’s thoroughbred industry.
“For some time the board and management of Racing SA have been looking at where the best opportunities are to grow and improve both our racetrack offering and training facilities,” he said.
“The ability to expand on the existing facilities at Strathalbyn is, we believe, the best option for the industry.
“It is in an ideal location in terms of proximity to Adelaide and is located in traditional horse country.”
Committing to Strathalbyn will be a stage-by-stage development with a timeline determined by funding as Racing SA embraces a trend that started with the construction of Pakenham in Victoria where racing complements a modern approach to training.
It will ensure Racing SA is well-positioned and even better prepared to provide infrastructure while minimalising any potential long-term impacts.
“Certainly there’s that future-proofing element … we need to be mindful that we don’t get caught in a situation where space is at a premium and we’re chasing our tail,” Bawden said.
“I think we need to make sure that we use our funds efficiently and don’t think ‘if we build it they will come’.
“We need to make sure that we do it responsibly but in terms of the racetrack, the surface and a redevelopment, I would imagine that’s probably where our focus needs to shift.
“But the growth that we’ve seen at Murray Bridge essentially points to what an undertaking like this can provide to the (Strathalbyn) community.”
Staff Writer
