July 5, 2019

The Australian Turf Club’s extensive upgrade of training facilities across its four venues will continue with a Polytrack surface to be laid down at Sydney’s largest training centre Warwick Farm.

It is intended the installation works on the Polytrack surface will commence in early November this year.

The $5.4 million project is jointly funded through a partnership between the Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW and is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.

The Australian Turf Club will work with Warwick Farm trainers leading up to the construction process to put in place suitable alternate training options to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum.

The Warwick Farm Polytrack follows the successful construction and opening of a Polytrack at Royal Randwick in January this year, which has been has been widely praised by trainers and jockeys.

It will also complete construction of upgraded or new all-weather synthetic training surfaces at all four Australian Turf Club racecourses.

Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding AO said: “We are pleased to work with the Australian Turf Club to upgrade training facilities at their metropolitan racecourses as we strive to make Sydney racing a world leader.”

Australian Turf Club Chairman Matthew McGrath said the timing of the Warwick Farm project’s commencement was planned to minimise disruption between Spring and Autumn carnivals.

“Warwick Farm is our largest training centre with some 730 horses on average in work each day,” Mr McGrath said.

“We have consulted widely with trainers and the early November start will mean minimum disruption to upcoming Spring Carnival programs and with planned completion well ahead of Autumn schedules.”