Once a centre for horseracing in the Eastern Cape, the Arlington Race Course in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, will make history when the 62-hectare property becomes the country’s first horse racing track to go under the auctioneer’s hammer on 23 April.
Described as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any developer’ by Ish Hendricks, Group Auctioneer for Broll Auctions, the vacant land in Victoria Drive, Walmer, is owned by Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, the country’s largest horse racing and tote betting operator, which is in business rescue.
The adopted business rescue plan provides for the sale of all the company’s assets and payments of the net proceeds generated to creditors in terms of the provisions of the Companies Act.
“We’ve received numerous enquiries from residential and industrial developers throughout South Africa, and I think this boils down to how unique this opportunity is, and the significant upside of a completed development in a great countryside setting,” Hendricks said.
“It is adjacent to the popular suburb of Walmer Heights and with easy access from Victoria Drive or Glendore Road, it is the last large piece of land within the hub of the main city, less than ten minutes from the airport, and making it ideal for residential estate development or an industrial park, subject to approvals from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.”
An application has been submitted to rezone from undetermined to special purposes for residential units.
“The land, which has structures befitting a race track such as a pavilion and stables, is being sold ‘voetstoots’, as-is,” Hendricks said. “Most developers, who are considering ideas such as student accommodation, micro apartments and retirement villages, are incorporating the iconic pavilion into their development schemes.”
Arlington, previously St Andrews Racing Club, was opened on 23 December 1950, by the then Mayor of Port Elizabeth, J.C.K. ‘Boet’ Erasmus. The last race was run in 2013.
The auction will take place at 10h30 on 23 April at the Radisson Hotel in Gqeberha
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