The Richmond track is set to undergo a major renovation and upgrade that upon completion will establish the venue as one of the leading facilities in NSW.
NSW Minister for Hospitality and Racing, Kevin Anderson, has announced funding of almost $700,000 from the Capital Grants Program had been approved for the project, and that work on the job - which is expected to take between four and six weeks for completion – will start in just over a week.
Among the scope of work, the track will be reshaped for better and safer geometry and transitioning of running surface, with the track sand surface to be replaced.
One of the most significant upgrades to the track will see two new starting positions put in place, with the 535m distance becoming 520m, and the 330m moving to 320m. With a new rail and change to the circumference of the circuit from 457m to 463m, all race distances will change slightly.
The new distances post reconstruction will be: 320m, 401m, 520m, 622m and 722m.
A new dual carriage lure rail and post system to cater for a Safe Chase remote lure and a cable lure and new LED light fittings to light track circumference from the grandstand and track poles will be installed, along with track and infrastructure cosmetic upgrades and adjustments to the Isolynx data and track system, and the irrigation system.
“I want to thank the Minister and Government for their continued of the industry in NSW, and the funding approval for this significant upgrade at Richmond,” Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov said.
“The remediation and upgrade of the Richmond circle track has been earmarked as our next major project in raising the standards of our tracks across the State.
“When the work is completed by late March, Richmond - with its upgraded circle track and very successful straight track, will be one of the leading greyhound facilities in NSW.”
Minister Anderson noted that greyhound racing in the Hawkesbury is extremely popular and a valuable employer for the local region.
“The NSW Government is committed to supporting greyhound racing and we are continuing to make record investments in the industry,” the Minister said.
“The $696,500 funding for these track upgrades comes from the NSW Government’s $30 million commitment to the Greyhound Racing Capital Grants Program and will work to further establish Richmond as a modern greyhound racing destination.
“This brings the funding from the Capital Grants Program for the Richmond facility to over $1 million.
“Greyhound welfare is at the forefront of everything we do to support the industry. We know that a safe industry built around animal welfare is a prosperous industry and one that will flourish into the future.
“The NSW Government is proud to support GRNSW and the local Richmond club with this funding to improve their facility and I look forward to visiting in the near future.”
Work will commence on February 14, with a number of alternative venues being used while Richmond is unavailable.
GRNSW’s Racing Operations team have rescheduled the meetings which were programmed when the track will be closed.
The Friday meetings scheduled for February 18 and 25 and March 11, 18 and 25, will be moved to Wentworth Park, while the meeting for Friday, March 4, will not be held.
The Richmond Straight Track will race in place of the Richmond Circle Track on Wednesdays February 16 and 23, March 2, 9, 16 and 23.
The Sunday meeting on February 27 will now be held at Bulli, the meeting on March 6 will move to Gunnedah and the Sunday meetings on March 13 and 20 will be held at Temora.
The Richmond Straight meetings on February 15 and 22 will be cancelled.
GRNSW is looking at all options of dates for the club’s feature events, the Derby and Oaks, which were scheduled for later this month.
