By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Sandown Racecourse’s owner has denied any plans to shut the track despite it being conspicuously overlooked as the new home of Caulfield’s training stables.
On 22 October, the State Government announced the facilities and horse trainers would instead be relocated to further-flung tracks in Cranbourne and Pakenham from mid-2020.
There was no mention of Sandown’s future in the $40 million joint initiative of the Government, Racing Victoria and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC).
The omission has re-ignited speculation that the MRC – which owns Sandown – wants to redevelop the track.
MRC member and former Greater Dandenong councillor Peter Brown believes the MRC has taken steps to subdivide the race course for a massive windfall.
Mr Brown said concept plans for subdivision had been presented to Greater Dandenong Council about seven weeks ago.
They include a mix of high-rise apartments, town houses, homes, a medical centre and shops on the site, he said.
The concept plans were a “statement of intent”; a preliminary step ahead of a formal submission to subdivide and rezone, Mr Brown said.
Both the MRC and Greater Dandenong have denied that concept plans have been lodged.
Mr Brown said the club’s committee and the council appeared to be “colluding” to present the racecourse’s closure as a “fait accomplit” to MRC members.
The track could be closed as early as 2020 – when car racing ends at Sandown, he said.
In September, Mr Brown unsuccessfully ran for a spot on the MRC committee on a platform of retaining the racecourse as its “jewel in the crown”.
“It is one of the most majestic race courses in Melbourne,” he said – citing its clear sightlines, track quality, fairness for all competitors and its general use by a range of groups.
The course had been bought and built in the 1960s as a buffer in case the club’s tenure at Caulfield was not renewed, Mr Brown said.
On 22 October, the MRC announced its Caulfield lease was renewed for another 65 years.
MRC spokesperson Laura Golden said that no decision on Sandown’s long-term future had been made.
“We will continue current operations for the foreseeable future.”
Ms Golden said the MRC had not submitted “any proposal” to Greater Dandenong Council, including concept plans.
Greater Dandenong Council also denied that any proposals or concept plans were lodged.
