ATC members vote no to Rosehill sale

Australian Turf Club members have voted against the proposed sale of Rosehill racecourse, bringing an end to a contentious plan that has stirred debate across the NSW racing industry.

The proposal, originally introduced in December 2023 by ATC chairman Peter McGauran alongside the NSW government, was marketed as a major solution to Sydney’s housing crisis, promising up to 25,000 new homes on the western Sydney site.

However, at Tuesday’s extraordinary general meeting, 56.1 per cent of voting ATC members opposed the plan, halting any potential deal. The ATC has a membership base of more than 11,500.

NSW Premier Chris Minns had called the sale a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to help resolve the city’s housing shortfall. Under the proposed terms, the NSW government would have acquired the racecourse for $5 billion, with the funding intended to bolster racing infrastructure across Sydney.

Despite the rejection, McGauran maintained that the sale was necessary for the long-term financial health of Sydney racing, citing pressure from falling wagering turnover as a major concern for the ATC’s sustainability.