Aerial vision of the Ballarat Turf Club has shown the magnitude of the multi-million dollar project to revamp the course.
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Works to the outer turf circuit are in full swing, with the construction of an all-weather synthetic track to soon begin.
BTC track manager Dylan O'Neil told The Courier that the works to the turf track were taking place from just after the winning post to the 1600m mark, with a new cambered bend being installed.
“The turf that’s on the inner track now, which is going to be our synthetic, they are going to cut the turf off that and relay it onto the outer track (new course proper),” O’Neil said.
O’Neil said drainage works on the turf track were scheduled to begin next week before turf is laid in mid-January.
He said BTC staff didn’t have a major role in the project, but were still taking a keen interest in its progress.
“We don’t have a lot to do with the works but we’ve just got to keep an eye on them and make sure we are happy with everything that is going on,” he said.
“I’ve never really been at a racecourse that’s done this much work. I wasn’t at Ballarat when they took the dip out of the track.
“It’s good to be involved in a project of this magnitude.”
O’Neil said there had been a reduction in the hours horses could be worked on the inner training tracks while works were taking place.
It’s good to be involved in a project of this magnitude.”
- Dylan O'Neil
Ballarat’s first meeting back on the turf track is booked in March next year, with the debut synthetic meeting scheduled for May 17.
Polytrack will carry out the installation of the new synthetic track, which will be used for training, trials and race meetings.
The entire project is estimated to cost about $10million.
- Aerial video and more pictures at thecourier.com.au