George Simon: Weighing in on the debate
George Simon • September 8th, 2025 3:32 PM • 5 min read
After reviewing the Proisir Plate day action at Ellerslie, the Weigh In panel of Guy Heveldt, Jayne Ivil and Emily Murphy discussed the proposed changes for Hawke's Bay Racing.
Last week, Hawke's Bay Racing Incorporated members were informed of a long-term proposal to develop a state of the art racecourse and thoroughbred training facility at Flaxmere.
They were also informed of the reconstruction of the current Hastings racecourse with re cambering of the bend out of the home straight and near the 1400m turn.
At a projected cost of $77.3 million, you'd be forgiven if you thought this was pie in the sky stuff.
Apparently, the sale of the current Hawke's Bay racetrack for $50m, Government funding of $20 million and further funding of $7.3 million from Hawke's Bay Racing Incorporated and NZTR will ensure the financial viability of the proposal.
If only it were that simple.
Ivil and Murphy then aired their views on this matter with both raising pertinent points for and against the proposal.
Ivil was staggered it has taken 11 months for Hawke's Bay Racing Incorporated to make an announcement regarding the Hastings racetrack.
She was also adamant NZTR honour their agreement to ensure the Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival returns in the future to its spiritual home at Hastings.
Murphy questioned why that should be the case, particularly in light of how the racing unfolded on Proisir Plate day at Ellerslie.
Will we see Group One racing return to the Hawke's Bay?
— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) September 8, 2025
The team on the Weigh In discuss the potential future of racing in the Central Districts.
Full episode 👉 https://t.co/A2FZ5XohIy@GuyHeveldt | @Em_April | @jivil10 pic.twitter.com/oQ5WdHssBQ
An outstanding field for the Group One feature was underpinned with capacity sized and quality laden fields on the under card.
Importantly, Murphy was justifiably glowing in her praise of how well the Ellerslie track played last Saturday with horses winning from everywhere in the running.
Obviously, it's better television to have differing viewpoints from time to time, but the way they put forward their thoughts was a credit to both Ivil and Murphy.
Personally, at the risk of alienating the Hawke's Bay racing fraternity, I question the validity of the proposed Greenfield project at Flaxmere.
For starters, I'll bet the projected $77.3 million cost will balloon out considerably.
They always do.
It would be naive to think otherwise.
Will building a new racetrack reinvigorate racing in the Hawke's Bay?
I'm sceptical, particularly with declining horse numbers based there and the changing societal landscape.
As a true-blue racing enthusiast, I'll be very happy to be proven wrong though.
Weigh In, 7 September
