The report, prepared in February 2009 by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), lists southern courses at Kurow, Omakau, Waikouaiti, Waimate, Winton, Gore and Wyndham as being potentially affected.
NZTR communications manager Simon Cooper said yesterday there would be no forced course closures.
But Gallop South chief executive Andre Klein said when contacted he did not accept that, believing the proposal was still on the table.
He said NZTR had a long-held aim, not necessarily publicly stated, to centralise racing because it could achieve considerable savings by closing small venues and using the money at major venues.
"That's absolutely mad.
"These small courses are the backbone of racing at the grassroots level. Their meetings are more than just racing - they are community events that make money and keep metropolitan racing afloat," Mr Klein said.
Many trainers were based in those communities and loved to see their horses race at the local meeting.
"People living in the Kurows, Omakaus and similar are not going to travel all the way to Dunedin or Christchurch just for a race meeting," he said.
The proposal to close small courses only emerged yesterday after a report was obtained by Radio New Zealand under the Official Information Act.
"A lot of that had not been made public to racing clubs," Mr Klein said.
The NZTR, in its report, says there are 67 clubs racing at 51 venues each year, 21 of which were used only one to three times annually.
Mr Klein said Gallop South was "vehemently opposed" to any course closures. When set up, its board decided it would never discuss course closures unless approached by a club.
"We will continue to fight this because we are unsure none will close," he said.
Mr Cooper said the proposal was contained in a report prepared in February last year in preparation for production of the annual calendar. It was the subject of further discussion and a legal opinion.
That legal opinion indicated NZTR did not have the power under its constitution or the Racing Act to force course closures.
The only way it could be done was voluntarily by the clubs or through the Racing Board not issuing a licence. As a result, the proposal had been shelved.
Asked if that meant no forced closures, Mr Cooper said they would not take place.
THE PROPOSAL
The suggestions for venue changes in the South Island were.-
> Reefton and Hokitika: To Omoto, Greymouth.
> Ashburton (or Timaru) and Waimate: Keep within Canterbury.
> Omakau (or Kurow): Move to Cromwell.
> Waikouaiti: Move to Wingatui.
> Winton (or Gore): Keep in Southland.
> Wyndham: Move to Invercargill.
