HRNSW boss looks to stimulus package push for Hunter plan

And he said a new site for a track and training centre for the region would be found "in a heartbeat" once the deal is done to move out of Newcastle Paceway to make way for the Broadmeadow sports and entertainment precinct redevelopment.

The code was not part of the state government's draft concept plan for the 63-hectare site when it was released in July 2017, despite the Newcastle Paceway taking up a significant portion of the region.

The Newcastle Harness Racing Club holds a lease on the paceway land until 2047 and the pacing industry has spent many millions of dollars developing and maintaining the facilities.

As it has done at other regional headquarters, HRNSW hopes to build a self-sustaining track and training centre in the Hunter, but it also wants to be duly compensated for leaving Newcastle Paceway.

The removal of harness racing from Broadmeadow is seen as a vital first step in starting the much-vaunted precinct plan.

HRNSW and the state government have been in negotiations about a new home for the sport in the Hunter since as early as 2015, and Dumesny hoped the desire for projects post-shutdown would generate action.

"Still pushing, still pushing every opportunity we get," Dumesny said of talks with the NSW government.

"The drought knocked us about because the government diverted their money into drought relief and COVID hasn't helped, but it potentially could.

"They are looking for stimulus package constructions so potentially that could help, but we'll keep pushing it.

"But we've got plenty of time."

It is understood land in the Maitland and Cessnock districts, with easy access to the Hunter Expressway, have been looked at as ideal sites for the new regional headquarters.

There has been strong speculation in local harness racing circles in recent months that a site in Branxton, near the expressway interchange, has been earmarked for the development.

Asked about a potential site, Dumesny said: "If the government offered us the money tomorrow, we'd find a place in a heartbeat.

"The concept for that [Broadmeadow] area is extremely good for Newcastle as a community, but the issue is the harness racing facility takes up one-third of it and it's right in the middle of it.

"We don't need to go. We'll be there until 2047 under the lease arrangement, but still you've got to look at every aspect and what helps the community as well as yourself, and that's where we'll go with that one."

He said the feedback from government on the Broadmeadow plan was that "it's a great idea".

"But it all comes down to money," he said.

"The harness racing component probably isn't a significant amount of it but the next part, the build for all those facilities, is a lot of money."

At Newcastle on Saturday night, Cessnock trainer Clayton Harmey welcomes back group 1 Hunter Region Championship victor Kanye Crusader as he chases his 100^th winner of the season.

Harmey, who is having a career-best season, is on 99 after a double on Monday at the track but he has just two runners on Saturday night.

The Bands Playing has gate four in race one (2030m) and was a winner over the distance at Newcastle two starts back. The colt was a last-start second to stablemate Dollys On A Roll at the track over a mile.

Kanye Crusader has not raced since leading all the way in the $100,000 Hunter final on May 23 at Newcastle, giving Harmey and teenage driver Jack Callaghan maiden group 1 victories.

He returns from gate one in race four on Saturday night but faces stiff opposition from the likes of last-start winners Regal Rock and Glengarry Rose.

At Menangle Park, Morisset trainer Mark Callaghan's Royal Gamble and Roy Roots jnr's Pitch Perfect will contest a group 3 final.

The pair were the fastest second-placed pacers from the eight heats.

Pitch Perfect was among the top hopes after drawing gate one, while Royal Gamble was an outsider in barrier four.