The state of Australia’s metropolitan tracks is worsening with major works required on a number of racecourses around the country.
While Randwick will host a magnificent two days of racing as part of The Championships this week, Warwick Farm, some thirty kilometres west of HQ, will host two far less glamorous meetings.
Warwick Farm will host fifteen races over just three days, with Wednesday’s meeting transferred from the much-maligned Kensington track.
After copping criticism from jockeys and trainers, the Kensington surface was rested after a difficult November but was expected to return this month. This delay comes after major works were undertaken in 2012-2013, where the track was out of action for over a year.
This is causing enormous pressure on Sydney’s three metropolitan tracks and the ATC should consider themselves fortunate, given the relatively dry autumn thus far (touch wood). The problem is exacerbated with Canterbury, arguably Sydney’s best surface, out of action due to its role as a quarantine centre for overseas horses.
Down in Melbourne, the Sandown track looked and raced awfully this week with clomps of turf and dirt constantly being kicked up. The inside running was barely used in the home straight, with jockeys preferring to cover extra ground by swooping wide. A huge winter awaits the track and surely works are required immediately if it is to survive the brutal load.
The conditions at Wednesday’s meeting were simple not good enough. In contrast, the new track at Tynong raced magnificently last week and looks to be a real positive asset for the industry in Victoria, if treated carefully.
Eagle Farm’s never-ending track renovation is having a significant impact on Brisbane racing with Doomben practically hosting meetings weekly. The burden has also been placed on provincial tracks at Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Gold Coast and doesn’t look like ending until well after the Winter Carnival.
Adelaide only has one metropolitan track (technically two) and as an owner, I have never had any issues when my horses have been sent there with horses pulling up well from both the outside and inside tracks.
Racing prides itself on maintaining a safe environment for all participants, particularly horses and jockeys whose survival is paramount to the future of the sport. It is time the race clubs and governing bodies start investing more money and resources into maintaining fair and safe racing surfaces at our major racetracks, rather than papering over the cracks.
Not only will it benefit trainers, jockeys and horses in the long run, but punters will also have more faith when investing their hard earned.
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