THE future of Krambach Race Club’s popular TAB meetings for the 2017-18 racing season are up in the air following a disagreement with Racing NSW Country.
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The ruling body is adamant the club should be amalgamated with a neighbouring club, while Krambach – which was established in 1882 – wants to remain independent.
Racing NSW Country has intimated that Krambach’s likely amalgamation would be with Taree Wingham Race Club or Tuncurry Forster Jockey Club.
This was announced to the club at meetings in June and December last year.
But the president of the Krambach Race Club, Les Cross, said it was opposed to any amalgamation as the club was steadfast in continuing its revered and proud history.
The situation came to a head at the club’s meeting at Taree on April 18 when Mr Cross and members of his committee enlisted the help of State MP Stephen Bromhead.
Club members voiced their concerns and their plight in an effort to have him take these up with Racing NSW Country to try and resolve the impasse.
Mr Cross said a perusal of the proposed dates for the 2017-18 racing season showed the club had no race dates.
This was not what was believed to have been resolved when the club met Racing NSW Country early this year to further address the situation.
“We had to battle for the proposed dates and we were assured they would be in the upcoming schedule,” Mr Cross said.
The club three years ago entered an agreement with Taree Wingham Race Club to use its track for meetings and an option for another five years was pencilled in when the present lease finished.
“We pay a fee to Taree Wingham for use of the track for racing and this goes towards track maintenance and infrastructure
“The club policy is that we want to remain independent.”
He said his club was proud of its record of paying visiting trainers transport expenses, about $3000 to $4000 a meeting, for bringing gallopers to its meetings.
“We also offer a $500 bonus to the first Taree trainer to have a winner at our meetings.
“Our main cup is now worth $30,000 and the minor cups have been increased to $25,000 each.
“We are not an insolvent club and we provide free entry to our meetings to help racing.”
Under the independence of the club a memorable 134th Krambach Cup has been achieved and as far as an argument that the club has no track, it was said with the building of the new Bushkand Drive Racecourse that it was for everyone in the Manning District, which includes Krambach Race Club.
