In a significant move set to reshape the New Zealand racing landscape, the Matamata Racing Club has confirmed the acquisition of a neighbouring property formerly owned by Valachi Downs. The purchase will pave the way for the development of a major new training facility, capable of housing up to 20 state-of-the-art barns with capacity for 250 horses.

The new complex will bolster the club’s already substantial infrastructure, currently accommodating around 150 horses on-course. With approximately 850 horses training at Matamata every month, the expansion is poised to make the Waikato venue the largest training centre in New Zealand.
The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Matamata Racing Club General Manager, Regan Donnison, to hear more about the ambitious plans. “The club purchased the property about three years ago with the idea of possible expansion,” Donnison said. “At the moment, there is a lot of positivity around the industry and high demand for trainers to be able to set up on-course, as per what is becoming the norm in Australia. There are many reasons for this. There is significant cost involved in training off-course, with trucks and staff, and having all staff in one place obviously works financially and logistically. We are mindful that we need to act now and it is the first step of a process. We want to grow and for everyone to benefit, and we have to play our part in order for this to happen.”

Matamata: A centre of equine excellence

Founded in 1919, Matamata Racing Club remains a cornerstone of the New Zealand racing industry, both historically and in modern times. In the 2024/25 season, the club held eleven race meetings under its own banner and hosted an additional fixture for the South Waikato Racing Club. The venue has also established itself as a prolific nursery of elite talent. In the 2023/24 season alone, Matamata-trained horses won 45 individual stakes races, including 40 per cent of all Group 1 races run in New Zealand. This season is already shaping up as another strong campaign, highlighted by significant results in spring and summer majors, including the inaugural running of the R. Listed NZ$3.5 million New Zealand Bloodstock Kiwi.

Already servicing around 40 trainers and approximately 850 horses, the club’s on-course amenities include a variety of training tracks, a swimming pool, weighing scales, schooling fences, custom-built jump out gates, and more. The next phase of development is aimed at future-proofing the venue and elevating it to truly world-class standards.

“This is more than just an expansion. It’s a vote of confidence in our trainers, our horses, and the future of New Zealand racing,” said Donnison. “We’re responding to real demand and positioning ourselves, and our region, as a key contributor to the national industry moving forward. This next phase of development will ensure Matamata remains at the forefront of the industry for years to come, while strengthening the Club’s ability to continue investing in its facilities with the goal of achieving world-class standards in the near future.”

Industry reaction
Among those welcoming the project is Andrew Scott, co-trainer of the powerhouse Wexford Stables, based at Matamata.

“It’s great to see a local club taking a progressive approach,” Scott said. “If all goes to plan, their proposed facilities will be a real asset to the industry, creating more opportunities for people to train on track, in line with a growing trend across Australasia. There’s still a way to go before it’s fully realised, but it’s a strong step in the right direction.”

Mark Walker who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson as part of the Te Akau team commented “Matamata has stood the test of time, Dave O’Sullivan and Jim Gibb’s are the pioneers of Matamata and there have been a lot of very good Matamata trained horses over the years. It is great to see Matamata looking towards the future and it provides an opportunity for the younger generation to get involved in leasing barns of 15-20 horses which is great. Especially as the price of land around race tracks in the Waikato in particular involves big, big bucks, and it is beyond young people. The area that the club has purchased is the old Wexford Stables were Paul and Dave O’Sullivan used to train, so there is good history there. Things in New Zealand are looking positive and Entain has basically saved us, it was looking pretty bleak, but with the prizemoney changes there is light at the end of the tunnel which is positive.”

While investment and and development is great, Walker commented that “Work is still to be done in New Zealand, Matamata are doing a great thing here but across New Zealand we need to improve race track surfaces, if you got no dance floor you can’t have a dance can you.”

John comments – this is certainly an interesting development by the Matamata Racing Club to further develop what is already a pretty good regional training centre – with my regular trips to Victoria over the last 18 months or so I have seen how regional training centres like Cranbourne and Pakenham have developed their training infrastructure and created major training centres  even though they are quite a distance away from the Melbourne City Centre