Work starts on Albany Racing Club

30/05/06
Works to build a new $160,000 sandtrack at the Albany Racing Club have begun and will be complete before winter rains set in, Racing and Gaming Minister Mark McGowan announced today.
Mr McGowan said the works had been funded through the Carpenter Government's $25million regional racecourse infrastructure grants program and were an interim measure to ensure local trainers had access to a fast work training facility all year round.
"This work is necessary as a matter of urgency because the existing sand track is unsuitable for fast work and is unusable for most of the winter months," the Minister said.
"It will tide the racing community over until the full master planning process has been completed."
Mr McGowan said the work would see the track widened to eight metres, with a running rail and irrigation. It would also see a table drain constructed on the inside of the track to assist drainage capabilities.
"A set of harrows will be provided as part of the grant, to enable the club to maintain the track properly after it is constructed," he said.
Albany MLA Peter Watson said the decision was fantastic news for the racing industry in Albany.
"The Albany Racing Club works very hard to maintain its racing facility and the new sand track will ensure that local trainers have access to proper training facilities," Mr Watson said.
"The racing industry in Albany is a significant employer of local people and the news of this grant, together with the strong stakemoney boost from RWWA over the last three years, will ensure that the local racing industry will continue to grow."
Mr McGowan said stakes money and venue funding to the Albany Racing Club had increased by more than 110 per cent over the past four years.
Minister's office: 9222 9111