Gulgong Turf Club is upset at Mid-Western Council’s decision to seek trusteeship of the Gulgong racecourse.
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Councillors voted last week to approach the Department of Lands to express interest in becoming trustee of the facility, putting council’s financial resources behind improvements to the ground.
However, Turf Club president and MWRC councillor Percy Thompson believes a council takeover would lead to the departure of the volunteers who currently maintain and improve the facilities at the racecourse.
The club has used volunteer labour and funds raised through race days to renovate the offices, erect a row of stalls, widen and camber the track, extend the food area, and install rails on both the outside and inside of the track.
Mr Thompson said the response from patrons at the club’s annual race day and the camel racing family fun day was always positive, and he had never heard the sort of negative feedback that has led council to consider taking over the facility.