Warwick Farm will be retained as a major racing and training centre under a $25 million redevelopment plan which includes the relocation of thoroughbred auctioneers William Inglis and Son to the track in Sydney's south west.The commitment by the sales company to purchase 9.5 hectares of land at Warwick Farm will form the basis of the ambitious facelift announced on Monday by the Australian Jockey Club (AJC).The announcement ended speculation Warwick Farm would be lost to racing although concessi

Warwick Farm will be retained as a major racing and training centre under a $25 million redevelopment plan which includes the relocation of thoroughbred auctioneers William Inglis and Son to the track in Sydney's south west.

The commitment by the sales company to purchase 9.5 hectares of land at Warwick Farm will form the basis of the ambitious facelift announced on Monday by the Australian Jockey Club (AJC).

The announcement ended speculation Warwick Farm would be lost to racing although concessions would be made such as the sale of the Cooper's Paddock area currently utilised by trainers to exercise horses.

AJC vice-chairman John Cornish said the plan depended on the sale of redundant assets but the future for the club was to attract family participation in racing in the fastest growing urban area in the country while retaining the country style atmosphere.

"The whole plan is premised on the sale of redundant assets for various legal and practical reasons as there are parcels of land that have now become available for sale," Cornish said.

"It is thought that the sale of this land over the next three years will generate income in excess of $30 million and the AJC board unanimously agreed to return 75 per cent of the funds raised from the Inglis sale into racecourse development."

A major sewerage and recycling farm owned by Sydney Water separates Coopers Paddock from the Warwick Farm village where most stables are located.

The Water Board has threatened to terminate access to a right of way over their land denying horses the means to travel to Coopers Paddock.

Subject to development conditions, the AJC proposes to give the land to the local community as a public recreation area and develop the polo fields site as a replacement with five kilometres of tracks for horse exercise.

"By 2030 it is predicted there will be an additional 300,000 new homes in the area," Cornish said.

"We have to look to the future in what is the fastest growing area in the state.

"We want to retain Warwick Farm as the best country style racecourse in the city anywhere in the world.

The Inglis complex will include stabling for 1,000 horses, bar and restaurant facilities and parking for 1,0000 cars.

Cornish said the AJC board had considered the options of either retaining Warwick Farm as purely a training facility or alternatively a racecourse.

Neither option was economically viable in the long term and the major redevelopment was the way to go.

In a bid to attract racegoers, a $25 non-voting family membership will be offered to locals in the hopes a new generation will come to the races.

As well as improving the training tracks, the AJC will revamp the public amenities and main grandstand and relocate the bookmakers' ring from its present site which has no cover.