Northern thoroughbred racing is left with just one final hurdle to the formation of a mega club in Auckland after Counties Racing Club members tonight approved a merger with the Auckland Racing Club.
Now all the industry needs is Auckland Racing Club members to approve the merger as their special meeting at Ellerslie on Thursday for the super club, which could enormously improve northern racing's fortunes, to be formed.
Counties members voted by what club chairman Mark Chitty described as a "huge majority, close to 90 per cent" to approve the proposed merger.
"We had a very positive meeting and a lot of our members had done their research so there wasn't that many questions," says Chitty.
"Counties has always been an innovative club and we look forward to being part of the next innovation in New Zealand and especially northern racing."