December 14, 2016
A renovated Royal Randwick course proper is in outstanding condition for a return to racing at this Saturday’s Inglis Villiers Day, Royal Randwick Track Manager Nevesh Ramdhani says.
The entire course proper surface has undergone a refurbishment over the past six weeks, including a 50mm cut and scarifying, sand grooving down to 150mm to enhance drainage, and an extensive fertilisation program.
It has resulted in a deep and lush cover of grass across the entire surface, which has been rated by some of Sydney’s leading jockeys as being in a perfect condition after some recent gallops.
The refurbishment will not only cater for Royal Randwick’s busy summer and New Year racing program but also help to ready the track for the Sydney Autumn and its premier event, The Championships.
Mr Ramdhani said with the rail true this Saturday the track surface would be ideal from the inside right across to the outside rail.
“In my time at Royal Randwick I have never seen the track look better, and the past six weeks of rest and renovation has been exactly what the track needed,’’ Mr Ramdhani said.
“I am confident we have the track in perfect shape for Summer and also leading into Autumn.
“We had several horses gallop over it last Friday with some of our most experienced jockeys, and they reported it was ‘like ‘carpet’.’’
View a video from this link here https://youtu.be/LlHeCDaM9FE of Mr Ramdhani talking more about the Royal Randwick course proper renovation, including a short time lapse video of the course proper’s growth.
WORKS COMMENCE ON NEW KENSINGTON TRACK
Work has now begun on a full rebuild of the Kensington track after a comprehensive planning and design process, aimed at setting a new benchmark for a racing surface in Sydney.
At the centre of the new track’s construction is a track profile based on the original design of Canterbury Park, but which also takes advantage of best practice modern technology.
The Kensington track design, which has been reviewed and endorsed by Racing NSW, wil provide a modern turf track with amplified drainage.
It features a deep gravel drainage layer, which sits below a 280mm growing medium and soil profile, and the kikuyu grass surface.
Its design means the track’s drainage and ability to cope with rainfall is expected to be significantly improved from Canterbury Park.
The Australian Turf Club hopes to have the Kensington track rebuild completed in the first quarter of 2017 ahead of a period of growth and consolidation throughout next spring, with a planned return to racing on Australia Day, Friday 26 January 2018.
DISMOUNT YARD AT FRONT OF GRANDSTAND
The finishing touches of a new dismount area at the front of the Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand at Royal Randwick are almost complete.
Procedures for return to scale and dismount in the Theatre Of The Horse will remain the same this Saturday, with the new dismount operations implemented in coming weeks.
The new dismount yard has been made necessary for work to be conducted in the race race day stalls area which will take place next year.