Always back the horse named self-interest, son. It'll be the only one trying
Auckland Trotting Club members voted on Wednesday night to approve the sale of the Franklin Training Center (Pukekohe) to a company named Oyster Capital for circa $70 million, which after legal and sale expenses is about exactly the $68 million we told you some months ago that the property would sell for, a figure that […]
Aren’t those gallops training tracks on the inside of the grass track? Gallops trainers aren’t going to like it….. Time to sell Alex Park and Puke, and build a purpose designed single racing and training venue. Belle from Burnie
The word is that HRNZ CEO Brad ‘Superman’ Steele is proposing/promising to contribute $13 million toward the construction of a new track and stables t0 replace the Franklin Training Centre, with the Auckland Trotting Club to kick in any extra money required. There are two problems with Superman’s proposal/promise, and both of them are significant. […]
Dear Track Users, On Wednesday July 23, members of the Auckland Trotting Club have been invited to attend an SGM to discuss a number of items, one of which is the sale of the Franklin training center. Ahead of the SGM we will be holding a meeting at Franklin Park at 3pm on July 23 […]
The word out of Alexandra Park is that Auckland Trotting Club chairman Jamie ‘ Watches’ Mackinnon is being paid a six-figure sum to act as a consultant to the club. A consultant on what? No-one seems to know. You’d certainly hope its not successful property developments or real estate deals. Mackinnon’s consulting role was never […]
The agenda for the Special General Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club to held on 23 July has been released to members,a and it will come as no surprise to readers of this site that it contains no offer to buy the Franklin Training Centre at Pukekohe for $100 million, or indeed any offer at […]
Dear MEMBER, NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING In accordance with Rule 17.7 of the Auckland Trotting Club Inc (ATC) Constitution, Notice is hereby given of a Special General Meeting (SGM) of Members of ATC to be held on Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at 6pm in the Tasman Room, Alexandra Park, Epsom. BUSINESS: Welcome. Apologies. Update on intended change to voting process for […]
Three months ago, in the wake of the collapsed $100m deal to sell the Franklin training centre at Pukekohe, Auckland Trotting Club (ATC) Chairman Jamie ‘Watches’ Mackinnon publicly announced that the club had the approval of its members to sell the track to another buyer. Sadly for Watches he lost track of time and forgot […]
Dear Members As I started drafting this letter on June 21, I was reminded that Saturday marked the winter solstice or as we more commonly know it, as the shortest day of daylight hours before the days start to get longer again. The Club is also at a turning point whereby plenty of hard work […]
Many in New Zealand are asking themselves an awful question right now. What’s worse? A kiddy fiddler of someone who gives bicarbonate to a horse? The answer is self-evident. It’s the convicted sex offender. Why then is a formerly high-profile Kiwi harness racing participant who falls into that category allowed back at the track less […]
