newsletter

MEMBERS UPDATE - Christmas 2009

Fantastic Racing Christmas Gift Offer    

For those members who love a good read, the Club has ordered some copies of Joe Janiak’s Book, Takeover Target.  They have arrived at the Club so if you are looking for that last minute Christmas Gift, call in and grab a copy.  Normal retail price is $34.95 but we have them available to you at only $27.95.  Why not get Joe to sign them for you at our Takeover Target race day on Saturday, January 2nd or if you want we can get Joe to personalise it for you pre Christmas.

Table Reservations

Members are reminded that tables can only be reserved in the Members on Non Feature Race Days (excludes Coffs Cup and Pink Silks day) and are available only when a catering option is ordered.  Please note that in order to maximize the number of tables and seats in the lounge for members and owners, we will be restricting the use of large round tables.  Maximum table size will be a six. 
Please note that Members must arrive to claim their table by the first race and food orders and reservations are to be made no later than 2 days prior on a first in best dressed arrangement. A limit of 6 bookings only will taken.  Payment for your food package must be made on reservation, either in person or by credit card over the phone.

Badge Presentation

One of the main concerns members have on race days is that there are people in the Members lounge that should not be there.  On key days the Club employs security at the door to assist in only letting in authorised persons.  We need your co-operation though in ensuring you have your Members badges visible.  Please don’t be offended if you get asked for your badges.  We often have new staff involved who may not recognise you.

Just so you know who is entitled to use the Members Lounge – Coffs Harbour Members, Members of reciprocal rights Club’s, Owners and trainers who have a horse racing on the day, Coffs Harbour Trainers, Country Racing NSW and Racing NSW officials.  All of these groups are required to have a badge visible.  If you have misplaced your badge, not to worry, you can get a pass from the office.

Summer Carnival

Three great days of racing are upon us with the first being a Twilight meeting on Tuesday December 29th. Click here for all the information on the 3 days.
Pink Silks Day is now in it’s fourth year and we are targeting the $120,000 mark over the four years at this meeting.  Please come along and support the day.  There will be some fantastic Auction items, raffles and gift bags for the first 200 ladies through the gate.

Highlights of 2009

2009 will be remembered as the year we almost got washed away. The devastating floods had a significant impact on the Club but they also provided the opportunity to get some things fixed.  We have installed a new Pro-ride surface, we have received a new set of starting barriers and all of our lost equipment was replaced with new ones.  Our Cup Carnival was a success with crowds increasing on previous years, as was Pink Silks day this year. The Club has also seen the hard work over a number of years by our events team paying off in the number of functions, tradeshows etc that we are conducting.

Ahead in 2010

The planning is in place for a great Summer Carnival, and the Pink Silks Committee has done everything possible to raise much needed funds for local women’s health initiatives.  Our Cup Carnival will continue to evolve and a number of new initiatives for corporate hospitality will be introduced this year.  From an industry perspective, decisions will be made on the critical court cases surrounding Race Field Legislation.  The Club will finalise its facility Plan of Management with the department of Lands which should assist in facilitating our growth as a Regional Training Centre.

Race Partnerships

The Club is on the lookout for interested parties to take on race partnerships throughout the season.  This is a fantastic and affordable way to promote your business, support the Club and enjoy some fantastic hospitality.  To find out more please give me a call at the office.

Merry Christmas

From the Board and Staff of the Club, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all Members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

 

MEMBERS UPDATE – March 2009

Where does the time go, the year is already 3 months old and we are already talking about our Cup Carnival. Following a successful summer racing program, culminating in a fantastic Pink Silks fundraising day, we are now looking at our busy autumn program, kicking off next Monday with the Coates Hire Race Day and Victorian Bushfire Appeal. 

Before going any further it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the work done once again by our Pink Silks Committee, raising $27,000 this year for local women’s health initiatives.  In three years the Pink Silks day‘s have raised around $85,000, what a fantastic effort.  As a head start for next year, I have a Members’ special opportunity for those looking to have a mare serviced this year.  Passed in at our Pink Silks auction, I have 2 stallion services at Wattle Brae Stud, who have been a valued supporter of the Club in recent years, available for silent auction. 

Please contact me on 6652 1488 with your bid or for more information on this exciting opportunity.

Bushfire Appeal - Monday 23 March at the Coates Hire Race Day:

The Club has offered to support The Russell Crowe, Luc Longley & Coffs Coast Community Caring for Victoria, Bushfire Appeal by donating our admission sales and proceeds from a Corporate Fundraising Luncheon and any other donations raised on the day, to this worthy cause.  The appeal is specifically targeting the money raised at the building of a new community centre in one of the fire affected areas.   Tickets to our fabulous 5 course Corporate Luncheon are only $80pp and an information form is attached.  Please join us for a great day out.

Training Track Upgrade:

As part of our ongoing push to provide the best possible training surfaces for our Trainers and Owners, the Club has formally sought the support of Racing NSW for funding towards a new Pro-ride synthetic track to replace our outdated Stabilizer Gold surface.  A funding model based on a five year repayment plan which will see contribution from the Club, Trainers & Racing NSW will raise the required $550,000 for the project.  The Club will be required to borrow part of the funds as part of the proposal.

The old Stabilizer Gold surface will be moved onto the Cinders track and combined to provide a sound slow work surface.  The project will reduce the need for grass access and provide better fast work options in wet periods. If you would like to know more about the project please give us a call.

Race Day Sponsorship:

The Club is pleased to advise that Fosters Australia have exercised their two year sponsorship option for alcoholic beverage rights at the Club.  This has been a very positive relationship for the Club and we look forward to some exciting announcements from Fosters relating to the sponsorship in the coming months.

The Club is always looking for new Race Sponsors and we have some exciting packages available to assist businesses get the most out of their marketing dollars and to cement their relationship with their clients. Gone are the days where you can just ask business houses for money and put up a couple of signs around the track, people want and expect a return and Race Sponsorship can offer a business a very unique opportunity.  If you would like to know more about one of our exciting packages please give me a call.

Next Season’s Race Dates:

The second, draft race dates program has been circulated to Club’s for final comment and there are some exciting changes for Coffs.  We all want to see more race meetings but the Board of Racing NSW has not made any changes to the number of meetings held at Club’s this year.  Significantly though our Cup Carnival this year will have a new look. We will have our Sunday, Community Cup’s meeting on Sunday July 26th followed by our Cup Carnival on Wednesday August 5th and Thursday August 6th (Cup Day).  Our successful Sportsman’s Breakfast will be held on the Wednesday morning prior to the races.  The Wednesday / Thursday mix will greatly assist us in attracting quality horses to the Carnival and should make for an even better event this year.  The Club has also secured the first Saturday in January in lieu of last year’s December 27th date.  Other dates have remained as per this season.

Functions Doing Well:

After years of hard work it is pleasing to see our functions business going from strength to strength and full credit must go to Simon, Karen and Matt for this.  The Club is showing its versatility, hosting small conferences and meetings to large conventions for over 1000 guests.  Following the success of last week’s Home Show we are pleased to advise that the Club has also secured the Coffs Coast 4 Wheel Drive, Caravan  and Camping Show on June 20 and 21.  This will be a huge event and Steve at the Driving Range will provide the parking.  There will also be a fantastic Sale on Golf equipment for those interested.

Members wishing to book functions such birthdays, Christmas parties and the like should contact the Club to find out what we can do for you.

MEMBERS UPDATE – Christmas 2008

We would like to take this opportunity to extend to you and your loved ones, our best wishes for the festive season and for a safe and prosperous New Year.

We have a busy few weeks ahead with races at Bowraville on Boxing Day and our own Non Tab meeting on Saturday December 27.  This meeting was transferred from our traditional meeting on New Year’s Day where the Club has lost money over the past few years due to penalty rates etc and the number of competing community events on the day.  Our Theme on the day is a beach party and those wearing thongs must have matching boardies.

We also have a TAB meeting three days later on Tuesday December 30th and we expect both days to be well supported by the public.  As we are in the midst of holidays, we have organised a stack of kids entertainment for both days.  Members wishing to reserve a table are advised that bookings must be made and paid for prior to race day and the cost is $30 per person (Guest of a Member - $50 – includes course entry and admission to Members). This includes a race book, complimentary drink, a dip platter on arrival and a gourmet platter latter in the day.

Our summer carnival concludes on Sunday January 11 with our second largest meeting of the year, our annual Pink Silks Ladies Day.  Pink of course is the fashion theme on the day and we are aiming once again to raise valuable funds to benefit the community.  In a broader women’s health focus this year’s fundraising will be in support of Breast Screen NSW – North Coast, North Coast Area Health Service Palliative Care and the Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre.

In other Club news

We have a special offer for Members in 2009, if a Member books a private or business non-race day function at the Club during the year, they will receive free venue hire and 10% off their beverage packages.

We are finalising plans for the replacement of our Stabilizer Gold training track with a new pro-ride surface.  This will be funded initially through a mix of industry funding and private investment with a generous interest rate being offered to attract potential investors.

The facilities Plan of Management is approaching completion and should be available for public display in February, as well as the Clubs Strategic Plan for the next five years. Our aim is to continue to make positive improvements throughout the facility that will benefit all participants and we will always welcome your contribution.

MEMBERS UPDATE – March 2008

Alan Johnson

Chairman’s Comment:

How time flies, here we are in March already and we are talking about our exciting winter Carnival. The devastating E.I outbreak has had a major impact on all concerned in the racing industry and the Club is no exception. Whilst we returned to regular racing in December, the outbreak has set the Club back a year in its planning, and it is likely that we will record a loss this season.

Whilst E.I has slowed us down, we remain excited about our future. It must be remembered that we are still under a period of administration from Racing NSW, with our current Board fulfilling this role and we need to be mindful of how quickly we push ahead. On the table at the moment is the installation of a major pumping station that will provide significant assistance to our track drainage, the expansion of toilet facilities in both the members and public areas, the development of a facility Master Plan that looks at the future usage of the site we manage (members are welcome to make contributions to this process – Please contact Russ at the Club) and various maintenance and development works throughout the facility to improve amenities for training, members and the public.

The Board recognises that for the Club to go forward we need to focus on our training and racing facilities and we are working closely with Racing NSW to ensure they recognise the opportunity to make Coffs a regional training centre and to allocate addition meetings to us in the future, but this won’t happen over- night. One of the keys to this is to ensure we continue to grow racing turnover and we are reviewing all aspects to see how we can influence this.

The Cup Carnival is our lifeblood and whilst we have the public on board we need to work on the racing product. To this end the Gold Cup will move from 2300m to 1600m in 2008 and there will be a greater focus on our sprint races over the Carnival while there will still be a feature distance race on Cup day. Consideration will also be given in coming seasons to move to a Wednesday/Thursday Carnival that will assist in attracting higher profile horses and jockey’s.

We always appreciate the input of our members in developing our strategies in making this Club the best in the State. Please contact Russ or myself at the Club to discuss these and any other issues or suggestions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at the Races very soon.

Alan Johnson – Chairman

Westlawn Finance Easter Cup

We are racing Easter Saturday for the first time since our successful Pink Silks Day ($30,000 raised for the local Breast Cancer Groups – a special thanks to all for your support) in January. Westlawn Finance has come on board as our major sponsor for the day, in what has become a fantastic family activity. The meeting is a TAB matinee with 7 TAB and 1 Non TAB races. Gates open at 10.30 with the first race at 11am. Last local race at 3.40pm.

Members Chicken & Champagne Brunch:

E.I robbed members of a number of race meetings during the season and the Board would like to extend an invitation to join them for a Chicken and Champagne brunch at our April race meeting on Tuesday April 8th (note that original Sunday 6th date was moved due to Sydney’s Autumn Carnival). The brunch will be held in the members lounge from 11.30 am to 12.30pm with the first race programmed for 1.05pm. Please give the Club a call by midday on Monday 7th of April to let us know you are coming for catering purposes.

Members – Reserving a Table:

The Board has approved the opportunity for Members to reserve a limited number of tables in the Members Lounge on racedays (Excluding the Carlton Draught Coffs Harbour Gold Cup Day) if you have pre-ordered a catering package through the Club. Members must arrive before race one to secure their table. Please contact the Club for Catering information.

Wade Takes Over the Reigns:

In early February, Drew Cookson left the Club to take on the role as Racecourse Manager at Grafton and to be closer to his family. Drew provided some great drive over the past few years and we wish him all the best for the future. Drew’s departure opened the door for Wade (Wade Hickey) who had been Drew’s right hand during this time, to step forward and take over the Racecourse Managers responsibilities. The Board is delighted Wade has accepted the challenge and wish him every success. We are now on the hunt for staff to assist Wade and Phil in the grounds areas.

Betting Auditoriums:

The Club is currently investigating the opportunity for it to conduct a number of betting auditoriums on key race dates during the year, such as the Golden Slipper and Caulfield Cup etc. Tote and bookmaker facilities are made available on these days and more information will be passed on to members when details are finalised.

Function Business Growing:

One of the pleasing aspects of the past 9 months has been the continued development of the Club’s function and event business. In particular conferences, trade shows, private functions and weddings. This success comes down to a quality facility, but more important, to the quality service delivered by Simon and his team, lead by Matt and Karen, who continue to lift the bar in this very competitive market. Members are encouraged to consider the Club when you are looking at organising either a private or business function. You will be pleasantly surprised in what we can put together. Members discounts apply.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

2008 Carlton Draught Gold Cup Day

Members who are interested in any of the corporate or private packages available on Cup Day are encouraged to get in early to avoid disappointment. Contact the office for more information or check the website www.coffsracingclub.com.au from April 1 for a full update.

Members are advised that general admission tickets this year will be $17 or they can be pre purchased for $15. At the request of Police and the Department of Liquor and Gaming, no under 18 year olds will be permitted on course on Cup Day. This is obviously targeting high school aged children from 14 to 17 years.

Displaying Membership Badges:

One of the main complaints we receive from Members is the number of people who come into the members who perhaps should not be there. Owners with horses racing on the day can also receive passes for the lounge. To assist staff with identifying persons who should not be in the room, please have your membership badges displayed in a prominent position wherever possible.

For more information on any of the above or on any other issue please give me a call on 6652 1488 Russ Atkinson Chief Executive