Pure Steel 1,303 Report post Posted March 24 Do you think they ever considered selling the whole kit and lot of Alexandra Park and moving out to Franklin track at Pukekohe , that they own ?? ? Beautiful countryside out there, and I think room for a Grandstand ? and build some World class Horse barns for leasing to trainers, and housing visitors from Australia and South Island , retention barn for big races , etc , etc and they could develop a bigger ( Left hand track ) and have harness racing set to go well into the future. problems all solved... Both Melbourne (shifted harness Moonee Valley to Melton ) and Sydney (shifted from Harold Park to Menangle) did this quite successfully. Only 50kms from Alexandra Park to Franklin .. so distance is NO PROBLEM for anyone ??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,851 Report post Posted March 24 21 minutes ago, Pure Steel said: Do you think they ever considered selling the whole kit and lot of Alexandra Park and moving out to Franklin track at Pukekohe , that they own ?? ? Beautiful countryside out there, and I think room for a Grandstand ? and build some World class Horse barns for leasing to trainers, and housing visitors from Australia and South Island , retention barn for big races , etc , etc and they could develop a bigger ( Left hand track ) and have harness racing set to go well into the future. problems all solved... Both Melbourne (shifted harness Moonee Valley to Melton ) and Sydney (shifted from Harold Park to Menangle) did this quite successfully. Only 50kms from Alexandra Park to Franklin .. so distance is NO PROBLEM for anyone ??? Fine if you accept no one will attend. Seriously limits it to local population. Aucklanders are never going to drive 45m to an hour depending on motorway traffic to get there. They don’t go now when it is in the middle of town….. Seems only a matter of time before AP goes completely though. Pure Steel 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iraklis 2,231 Report post Posted March 24 Pure mate, kinda depends on who you talk to bout ATC ownin Puke perhaps someone with the inside info could clarify that one....there's the theory, and then there's who knows? it all seems bit murky whatever..... Ohoka mate, Puke is Auckland now, an it aint 45mins from CBD anymore Cheers Iraklis Pure Steel and Ohokaman 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,851 Report post Posted March 24 7 minutes ago, Iraklis said: Pure mate, kinda depends on who you talk to bout ATC ownin Puke perhaps someone with the inside info could clarify that one....there's the theory, and then there's who knows? it all seems bit murky whatever..... Ohoka mate, Puke is Auckland now, an it aint 45mins from CBD anymore Cheers Iraklis Try driving it Friday night in peak traffic, and hope there are no pile ups……50kms easy….. Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Steel 1,303 Report post Posted March 25 some good points about attendance . I thought like most tracks everywhere (apart from your excellent picnic/grass/holiday race meetings, that the most people attending would be connections and friends/family of the horses that are racing. so would go anyway... The BIG Punters are at home hammering the Bookies with whatever 'Good Thing' they see on the program. And Pukekohe would be excellent location (For All The Horse People) coming from Cambridge/Waikato south and Papakura/Clevedon North where a huge chunk of them come from. Isn't Epsom hard to get to these days? used to be lol. I parked in the Showgrounds for many years just to get out easier lol..... Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Steel 1,303 Report post Posted March 25 1 hour ago, Iraklis said: kinda depends on who you talk to bout ATC ownin Puke perhaps someone with the inside info could clarify that one....there's the theory Fair enough. If they don't own it then the ATC assets are dwindling for sure. and they are in dire straits. If you Google FRANKLIN PARK training track . It comes up under the Alexandra Park banner. the freight trains coming past on that close rail line used to scare a few of locals time to time. make them run a bit faster I spose Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeeMeNow 194 Report post Posted March 25 Franklin Park Training Centre is a 96-acre harness racing training complex in Pukekohe. With Alexandra Park being the Premier Harness track in the north Island the training complex is a vital part of the ATC daily operation. There are three training tracks and various barns around the site with between 160-200horses trained on these tracks each day. These numbers fluctuate depending on the time of year and the visiting trainers that are stabled in Pukekohe for the carnival racing programmed in the North. Franklin Park offers weekly trials and workouts for all the horses trained in greater Auckland area as well as attendance by the Waikato trainers depending on the racing schedules. This is what ATC said in last years annual report. Then they sold it for $100m, receiving a deposit, and are leasing it back for 2 years, so they claim that within those 2 years they will develop a replacement training venue somewhere else. Pure Steel and Iraklis 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,851 Report post Posted March 25 Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikenz 1,095 Report post Posted March 25 9 23 minutes ago, Ohokaman said: I wonder if that's two rebellious committee members of ATC who don't buy in to the hierarchy management plan. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iraklis 2,231 Report post Posted March 25 I'm with you on that one Ohoka mate ah hahahahahaha sold for 100 mil, and got a deposit (sorta kinda may have) gunna build a new trainin complex somewhere else, on what? with what? fresh air....geeezuzzzz Cheers Iraklis Value Bell 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiery Falcon 90 Report post Posted March 25 They have rental income of $3-4m a year from retail spaces under the apartment buildings and also from auckland rugby union. The tab at the club generates the biggest turnover in nz. They have other income. Most of you do not know what you are talking about . What would you have done Pure Steel you do not know what you are talking about. Number of people going to ATC dropped when casino was built and young people have plenty of options Having Cambridge race on a Thursday and Auckland on a Friday is a killer for fields. I go to most meetings and after 50years have seen a lot of changes The people in charge have a tough role but i get sick of people putting the boot in most of you would do no better Ohokaman and Iraklis 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Steel 1,303 Report post Posted March 25 28 minutes ago, Fiery Falcon said: Most of you do not know what you are talking about . What would you have done Pure Steel you do not know what you are talking about. well I think that the thread is about the past, present and future of the Auckland trotting club (with a Simpsons joke thrown in ) so that is what they are talking about Fiery one . sorry if I was too far off topic for you ... What are you Talking about today. ? at the Top of the page I did put the "What would you have done ?'' just as you requested . that was to Re-locate to Franklin . a very smart move IMO. CeeMeNow says the Franklin Centre is sold and leased out already , so that takes that option out of play unfortunately ......... so yes I guess it was just a personal dream to save the Day . But as they say in New Zealand (especially at Purdon's) Don't Stop Dreaming. As I said the Vic and NSW metro harness clubs re-located quite successfully out of town to Melton and Menangle , and now Brisbane are looking to do the same... a clever move the way harness racing crowds are going these days. Good for you still attending though after all those years !! a true supporter . Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iraklis 2,231 Report post Posted March 25 Fiery F, dude, all those media reports across the paps alone were enough to signal somethin wasn't right at The Park, and from all reports it still aint right....so don't be gettin all up on your high horse about people stickin the boot in, when it is ATC and the leadership there that have caused whats happened, startin with that bloody developments disaster (misguided yes) and the resultant continued efforts to maintain the 'there's nothin to see here' syndrome, when clearly there was more than alot to see and hear there, as media reports attest....and Pure you are not the only one to suggest why don't they sell APark and get Pukekohe up an runnin, I have heard that asked by many when talkin about AlexPark woes etc... Cheers Iraklis Ned Kelly and Idolmite 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idolmite 2,567 Report post Posted March 25 1 minute ago, Iraklis said: Fiery F, dude, all those media reports across the paps alone were enough to signal somethin wasn't right at The Park, and from all reports it still aint right....so don't be gettin all up on your high horse about people stickin the boot in, when it is ATC and the leadership there that have caused whats happened, startin with that bloody developments disaster (misguided yes) and the resultant continued efforts to maintain the 'there's nothin to see here' syndrome, when clearly there was more than alot to see and hear there, as media reports attest.... Cheers Iraklis The outright lies told by the ATC leadership through the media makes them unworthy of support, which is a really sad thing to have to say. But it is FACT. End of!! Ned Kelly and Iraklis 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeeMeNow 194 Report post Posted March 25 (edited) 14 hours ago, Idolmite said: The outright lies told by the ATC leadership through the media makes them unworthy of support, which is a really sad thing to have to say. But it is FACT. End of!! The ATC Auditor's, BDO don't trust their PR either; "Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern We draw attention to Note 1(b) to the financial statements, which indicate that the Group incurred a net deficit from continuing operations of $6.8m during the year ending 31 July 2023 and, as at that date, the Group's current liabilities exceeded it's current assets by $47.3m. As stated in Note 1(b) these events or conditions, along with other matters as set forth in Note 1 (b) indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the Groups ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter." The ATC have included a list of all their financial members at the end of the 2023 accounts, they seem to be saying that NO decisions were made without the support of these people so don't blame the directors! Edited March 25 by CeeMeNow missing word Iraklis and Ohokaman 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterEd 332 Report post Posted March 26 Just waiting for the first big north Island trainer to get sick of the situation pull the pin and move south. There is at least one I know of who is thinking of doing just that. Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamour 673 Report post Posted March 26 On 3/25/2024 at 12:00 PM, Pure Steel said: Do you think they ever considered selling the whole kit and lot of Alexandra Park and moving out to Franklin track at Pukekohe , that they own ?? ? By the time they build a new grandstand, put in lights etc I’m not convinced there would be a lot left over from the sale of Alexandra Park. They would probably spend a few million on architects & council consents before any construction got underway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alf Riston 1,555 Report post Posted March 27 On 3/26/2024 at 4:02 PM, lamour said: By the time they build a new grandstand, put in lights etc I’m not convinced there would be a lot left over from the sale of Alexandra Park. They would probably spend a few million on architects & council consents before any construction got underway. Based on projections of attendance, this should do the job and not be too cost prohibitive.... TARANTULA, MisterEd, Idolmite and 6 others 1 8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iraklis 2,231 Report post Posted March 27 Yeh yeh Alf, I gotta couple of solar floodlights they could use, an a decent sized chilly bin woohoo! good to go bring on the geegees.... Cheers Iraklis Ohokaman and Alf Riston 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TARANTULA 54 Report post Posted March 27 STAND LOOKS A BIT BIG FOR AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB , BUT GOOD THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE DREAM OF INCREASING ATTENDANCE. Alf Riston, CeeMeNow, Iraklis and 1 other 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamour 673 Report post Posted March 28 13 hours ago, Alf Riston said: Based on projections of attendance, this should do the job and not be too cost prohibitive.... Alf, Your still looking at a couple of million for the architect even for this. Iraklis and Alf Riston 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alf Riston 1,555 Report post Posted March 28 This appears to be a photo of the stand in use during the construction *1943* (the old wooden stand it replaced was destroyed by a cyclone) I'd imagine under today's Health and Safety regime, no patrons would be allowed within 5kms and there would be barriers and 30,000 cones in the picture. But that was in an age that common sense was still allowed..... The demolition will be with a touch of sadness for me, having attended nearly every meeting of my '15 to 20 year old years' at the Park with mates on this stand, lot's of great memories.......... Alexandra Park loses the last part of it's soul, leaving only an oversized ugly duckling to accommodate it's diminishing pool of attendees .... Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alf Riston 1,555 Report post Posted March 28 A great piece of footage showing The Park in her old time glory days https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/39005/auckland-trotting-cup-1945 Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,851 Report post Posted March 28 1 hour ago, Alf Riston said: A great piece of footage showing The Park in her old time glory days https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/39005/auckland-trotting-cup-1945 Great footage Phil. Boy dress codes have changed since then eh…. Alf Riston and Iraklis 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue 1,099 Report post Posted March 29 On 3/28/2024 at 10:50 AM, TARANTULA said: STAND LOOKS A BIT BIG FOR AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB , BUT GOOD THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE DREAM OF INCREASING ATTENDANCE. You forgot to mention Mr Whippy !! Iraklis 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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