MORNINGTON racecourse is about to get a $2.75 million all weather synthetic training track.
The synthetic track, to be completed by September, will replace the existing 12-year-old sand track and allow training all year on a more consistent training surface.
The existing track base and drainage will support the new synthetic track, which will be the same dimensions as the old sand track – 1730 metres in length and eight metres wide.
The club estimates it will save $15,000 a year on water.
The Melbourne Racing Club holds 18 race meetings and 40 jump outs each year at Mornington, with around 86 trainers and 440 horses using the track to train.
Racing Minister Martin Pakula said the government would give $1.38 million from the Victorian Racing Industry Fund towards the project. Racing Victoria is providing $962,500 towards the track upgrade and the Melbourne Racing Club $412,500.
Since 2014, the government has provided almost $1.84 million to support six infrastructure projects and five race day events at Mornington.
The racing industry in outer Melbourne generates more than $375 million a year for the Victorian economy and helps to sustain more than 3720 full-time equivalent jobs in the region.
First published in the Mornington News – 21 August 2018
