Racing NSW has renewed its long-standing ambition to establish a purpose-built training centre modelled on Newmarket in the United Kingdom, with new property options identified in the Southern Highlands south of Sydney that could accommodate thousands of racehorses.
What Racing NSW is pursuing
The thoroughbred industry regulator’s vision calls for a large-scale complex that would include stables, training tracks and potentially a racecourse and other supporting facilities if a parcel of land with the right size and terrain can be secured. The plan seeks areas within roughly 160 kilometres of Sydney’s central business district, and sources say fresh sites have been located for what has been described as an audacious project.
The idea is not new. More than seven years after Racing NSW first signalled its intention to acquire a property capable of housing in excess of 1,000 horses in full training, the regulator appears to be actively exploring options again.
Land and local contacts
Property developer Steve Grant, founder of Capital Corporation and owner of Southern Highlands thoroughbred stud Silverdale Farm, confirmed discussions with Racing NSW earlier this year about potential properties. He told reporters he had recently identified a site that might warrant consideration but had not heard whether Racing NSW had acted on it.
“There was a property that I identified down there probably (a little more than) three months ago that might’ve been worth looking at, but I haven’t heard if they’ve made a move on it or not,”
Grant said there are a number of attractive properties in the region that could meet the needs of a major equine training centre. Terrain, access and the overall footprint of available land will be central to any decision.
Long-term ambition and precedent
The push echoes earlier comments by Racing NSW executives. In 2019, chief executive Peter V’landys — who remains a dominant figure in Australian racing administration and is currently on a period of long-service leave while serving as executive chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission — spoke publicly about the organisation’s Newmarket-style aspirations for the Southern Highlands.
For Newmarket observers overseas, the reference carries weight. Newmarket, England, is internationally known as a centre of thoroughbred training and racing, with concentrated infrastructure that supports large numbers of trainers, training gallops and race facilities in close proximity. Recreating aspects of that concentration would represent a significant shift in training geography for the Sydney metropolitan area and its hinterland.
Possible components
- Stables and accommodation for a large resident equine population.
- Training tracks and multiple gallops for varied conditioning needs.
- Supporting facilities such as a potential racecourse, veterinary services and transport access.
Any project of this scale would require an appropriately sized parcel of land and favourable terrain. In Australia’s planning environment, such a development would also likely require assessments of environmental impact, traffic and local infrastructure — matters that typically draw public and council attention.
| Feature | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Target region | Southern Highlands, south of Sydney |
| Distance sought | Within ~160 km of Sydney CBD |
| Horse capacity cited | More than 1,000 in full training |
Why Newmarket matters to local readers
Newmarket’s name carries international currency in thoroughbred circles because of its dense concentration of training and racing infrastructure. When major racing jurisdictions talk about building a "Newmarket-style" centre, they are signalling an ambition to centralise industry operations in a way that can reshape regional horse training patterns and influence where owners and trainers base themselves.
For communities in regions being considered for such projects, the potential effects range from increased economic activity tied to racing and breeding to pressure on land use and local services. At this stage, Racing NSW’s renewed interest in the Southern Highlands is a planning and property exercise: identified options have been discussed, but no purchase or development approvals have been announced.
Local stakeholders, property owners and racing industry participants will be watching whether Racing NSW advances from identifying suitable sites to a formal acquisition and development proposal. Any movement on that front would mark a significant chapter in how Australian racing arranges its training base — and would illustrate how the Newmarket model remains influential far beyond the English fens.
