Racing fans in Victoria are set to have the opportunity to debate controversial proposals to develop one of the most historic venues in Australia.
Sandown Park accommodates horse racing and motorsports, but has been earmarked as a potential site for urban redevelopment.
Public hearings are scheduled to begin on Monday, August 19, and will play a key role in determining future plans for this iconic patch of land.
Read on as we look at the history of Sandown Park, before assessing what will likely happen to a venue the racing community is desperate to retain.
Sandown Park Boasts a Long History
The site first staged horse racing in 1888 under the moniker Oakleigh Park, before the name was changed to Sandown Park four years later.
Equine action was staged until 1931, at which point it was closed and left abandoned for the next few decades due to a government rationalisation program.
A merger between the Victorian Amateur Turf Club and several other organisations in the early 1960s was the catalyst for Sandown to be reborn.
The project included horse racing on a new turf course and the construction of a motor racing circuit designed to stage top-class events.
Ambitious plans to secure a round of the Formula 1 World Championship during the 1980s failed to come to fruition despite significant investment into the circuit.
After numerous unsuccessful attempts to attract international races, the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) brought the operation of the motor racing circuit in house in 2007.
They negotiated a deal with V8 Supercars, which kept Sandown on the calendar until at least 2020. The contract was subsequently extended until 2023.
MRC also began to explore plans to sell the entire site for housing, but these were shelved as the horse racing and motor sports events generated significant profits.
Racing Community Eager to Retain Sandown
Members of the Sandown Racecourse Advisory Committee have been tasked with overseeing the hearings which will determine the future of Sandown.
However, it is worth noting that any move to cease horse racing at the venue requires approval from MRC members. More than 250 submissions will be heard before there are any votes on the matter.
Numerous stakeholders from the motorsports sector will contribute to the debate, while many more will join in from the horse racing community.
The equine sector has been particularly vocal, with several prominent figures arguing that Australian horse racing cannot afford to lose Sandown.
Trainer Amy Yargi has led the way by claiming the site ‘is an incredibly important track for the racing industry from a wagering and animal welfare point of view’.
Sandown is undoubtedly one of the most popular racecourses with bettors, with the layout of the track providing a fair test for horses and jockeys.
Australian punters clamour for free horse racing tips whenever Sandown stages meetings, highlighting its enduring popularity with bettors.
Amy McDonald is another trainer who is opposed to the sale of Sandown, although she is open to the notion that some areas on the site could be redeveloped.
“Sandown is by far the most dynamic and user-friendly for racing and participants,” McDonald said. “It’s a big, open and roomy track that is safe and reliable for horse and jockey to compete on. The positive effects this course alone has on the industry far outweigh any development.
“However, there are many significant pockets of land on this huge property that are dormant and underutilised that could be sold as a partial development, which would be ideal for all parties involved. Leaving the racetrack in its glorious entirety is a must!”
Sandown’s Future Hangs in the Balance
Several other trainers have opposed the proposed redevelopment of Sandown, while the Victorian Jockeys Association have called for the site to remain as it is.
With the motorsports community also concerned it is in danger of losing its presence in Melbourne, the public hearings undoubtedly take on added importance.
A final decision is expected in November, and it will be intriguing to see whether the people representing horse racing and motorsports are able to make their voices heard.
McDonald’s suggestion that finding some middle ground may well be the way forward, giving stakeholders on all sides the opportunity to work in harmony to improve this iconic site.
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