Walker said it made no sense closing the courses and moving all thoroughbred racing to Invercargill.
"Other community organisations, such as the local A&P shows ... and rural groups use these two courses. It will gut the region losing these two rural tracks, and deter the next generation of trainers, breeders and horse enthusiasts," he said.
Walker has met Gore and Winton racecourse stakeholders this month and said they were proud of the courses.
Generations had invested a huge amount of time, money and effort into them, making them what they were today. To lose them would be a real tragedy, he said.
"Without a strong public campaign, the two tracks will be closed and two communities will lose two vital assets."
"I’m calling on all of Southland to get behind these two racecourses and sign the petition to save them."
Other tracks under the threat of closure are Timaru, Oamaru, Omakau, Kurow and Waimate.
