Spring start for track building

Clarence River Jockey Club CEO Bradley de Martino Rosaroll (left) and track manager Drew Cookson look over the Grafton Racecourse.

Daily Examiner

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Grafton Cup 2009

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Ladies Day at Grafton's July Carnival

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THE local horse racing community will be willing on the change of seasons after early September was earmarked as the likely date for construction of the new Pro-Ride training track at the Grafton Racecourse.

With track work severely hampered by the existing StaLok all-weather training track, local trainers have been calling for the Pro-Ride installation to begin as soon as possible.

The conclusion of the July Racing Carnival was first mooted as a starting date for the synthetic track's construction, but with civil contracts and the arrival of track components still to negotiate, the date has slowly been pushed further and further back.

However, Clarence River Jockey Club chairman Bob Pavitt said construction of the new track had never strayed from the top of the CRJC's priority list.

“We haven't been able to start when we would have liked,” he said.

“But the project is proceeding ... and we are working towards hopefully starting in the first week of September.

“Unfortunately it is a bit later than we would have liked.”

Pavitt said Pro-Ride Racing Australia managing director Ian Pearse had visited the racecourse late last week to ensure the project continued to gather momentum.

One of the aspects Pearse was casting his eye over was the racecourse's drainage capability.

“The purpose of the meeting was for Pro-Ride to discuss the track and talk to the civil contractors,” Pavitt said.

“Part of the reason ... was the drainage part of the installation.”

Pearse said he had a successful trip to Grafton and left assured there was nothing 'detrimental' about the racecourse which would scupper the track's installation.

Pearse was also confident the Pro-Ride track would end the trainers' all-weather nightmare.

“I'm 100 percent positive,” he said.

“We have built enough of these to know what we are doing.”

The new Pro-Ride track will have a strong local flavour, with Pro-Ride Australia to open 'dialogue' with the trainers to discuss their ideas and concerns with the new track.

“We want to hold a management program with the trainers, so they know what they are getting,” Pearse said.

“We are trying to produce a track that suits their needs.”

Pro-Ride's objective is to 'create tailor-made track solutions' and has received acclaim from racing identities such as David Hayes, Gosford Race Track manager, Steve Scollard, and two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Carl Nafzger.