Racing Minister Winston Peters told a meeting of representatives of the three racing codes in Invercargill on Wednesday night that three all-weather thoroughbred tracks would be built in New Zealand.
One of those would be built in the South Island and was likely to be near Christchurch.
That makes the Canterbury Jockey Club's Riccarton Park track the leading contender.
The club welcomed Peters' announcement, chief executive Tim Mills said.
"It is not a new thing. There were discussions in 2008 about synthetic tracks and it is obviously no secret they are on the agenda again.
"We have been proactive in talking with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing just to ensure we are in the forefront of everyone's thinking and/or
planning," Mills said.
"I think it makes sense to have it inside an existing track and Riccarton certainly makes sense to create one without any compromises."
Mills said the Riccarton course was similarly placed to build a track like one successfully developed in Pakenham in Victoria.
The $A9million ($NZ9.82million) track was first opened for racing in 2009.
"If you look at the most recent model in Victoria, which is Pakenham, they built the synthetic track and then they built the grass track around it."
"It ended up being about a 2400m track. We already have a 2400m track so that would suggest you could build a synthetic track or an alternative racing surface inside of the existing Riccarton track."
Peters did not rule out the idea that the South Island's synthetic track could be built outside Canterbury.
If the southern industry "find some money and put some money up" the track could be built in the South.
Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew said the cost of maintaining a synthetic track made having one in Southland an unattractive prospect.
"The maintenance costs alone would be financial suicide for us down here - it is six figures a year to maintain the things.
"I think you would find the maintenance programme at Pakenham is beyond $100,000 per annum.
"A few of our board members discussed it after the event. It is on the table but I am a bit cynical about it," Bellew said.
"Geography suggests Canterbury would be the home of it.
"I don't think spending hundreds of millions of dollars on synthetic tracks is the silver bullet, but I am not doubting the Minister of Racing. He has got enough energy and enthusiasm to make a difference, but leaving a legacy of three tracks around the country is not the answer."
Wingatui racecourse could be a contender given its location and the Otago Racing Club's situation.
Its large land holding would easily encompass building a new facility.
Its central location, between Canterbury and Southland, could make it attractive from a travelling perspective.
The Rangiora, Oamaru, Timaru and Ashburton racetracks look at longer odds to be chosen.
