As reported by Doug Ryan in the Great Lakes Advocate on Wednesday, May 3 Racing NSW Country has told the Krambach club it has to amalgamate with another club, either Taree-Wingham or Tuncurry-Forster. Krambach officials are vehemently opposed to the move.

“The club policy is that we remain independent,’’ Krambach president Les Cross said.

Krambach’s history dates back to 1882.

“We’re aware Racing NSW Country has asked Krambach to look at a meger. We’re open to discussions,’’ Taree-Wingham chairman Greg Coleman said.

Mr Coleman said his club hadn’t instigated the moves.

“At the end of the day the governing body has instructed us to investigate an amalgamation and we’re dependent on them for funding,’’ he said.

Krambach conducts its three meetings a year at Taree's Bushland Drive complex. The club has raced at Taree since the Krambach track was closed in the late 1960s, initially at the track known as ‘Robbery Park’ before moving to Bushland Drive in 1974.

“We respect Krambach’s situation – the club has a long and proud history,’’ Mr Coleman said.

“But so did Taree and Wingham race clubs and we were encouraged to merge 16 years ago to form the Taree-Wingham club. This has been extremely successful.’’

He added in the bigger picture the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) and the Sydney Turf Club (STC) also successfully merged in 2011 to become the Australian Turf Club (ATC). 

Mr Coleman believes if the amalgamation with Krambach goes ahead the new entity will have a new name. He said it won’t be a takeover of the Krambach club

Mr Coleman added he isn’t concerned the clubs losing their identity with a merger.

“If the name represents the area it’s fine,’’ he said.

“The Clarence River Jockey Club at Grafton and the Murrimbidgee Race Club at Wagga are the two most successful clubs in country racing. The Clarence River Jockey Club was formed after the merger of four clubs.

“Krambach currently conducts three meetings a year, Taree-Wingham 19. A merged club would conduct 22 making it the third biggest in country NSW behind Clarence River and Murrimbidgee.”

Mr Coleman said a new club would also have a new constitution. He expects the board of directors would be made up of officials from both clubs.

He stressed that Krambah’s time-honoured major races, including the Krambach Cup and the Gloucester Cup, would still be run by the merged club.

“The club would run seven cup meetings a year – Taree, Wingham, Krambach, Hopkins-Livermore, Hannam Vale, Gloucester and Harrington,’’ he said.

“Nothing would change there.’’

Mr Coleman said Taree-Wingham will work with the governing authority.

“We’ll be looking to get a positive result for racing,’’ he said.

He understands there’s no timetable for a merger, but hopes the meeting with the Krambach board will be fruitful.