DA Approval for new PolyTrack plans for Wyong
Central coast council has approved Wyong Race Club’s Development Application (DA) to build the new $4m Poly training track that will enhance Wyong’s reputation as one of the leading Provincial training venues in Australia.
The application was files in December and finally approved on May 22, 2019.
The club has met with Racing NSW to finalise project plans and funding support. It is expected that tenders for the civil works attached to the project will be called in the next few weeks with work to commence in the next couple of months.
Construction of the new all-weather training track is expected to take around 8 months.
CEO David Jewell explained that the new track will be built inside the two existing sand tracks and work can be progressed with little or no interruption to the daily training programme for the more than 200 horses that are trained here in the early hours of the morning throughout the year.
“The Polytrack will complement our existing facilities and with the Club’s horse pool, two effective sand tracks and access to the course proper out training facilities will be amongst the best available at any track outside of the metropolitan area.”
Polytrack has recently installed new all-weather training tracks at Hawkesbury and Randwick and are currently building a new track at Kembla. The benefit of the Polytrack training surface is that it is very forgiving for the horses, it is dust free, very adaptable and requires minimal daily maintenance and does not require any irrigation. A special wax coating and imported synthetic fibres are mixed with the sand to provide a very consistent ‘cushioned’ surface for the horses to gallop over. Trainers at Hawkesbury and Randwick are very positive about the new training Polytacks available there.
Jewell said that “before the new Polytrack can be put down the Club will need to construct the base, which will involve a significant amount of earthworks to raise the level of the track to minimise the risk of future flooding as well as providing for the approopriate cross falls and cambers (slope from the outside of the outside of the track down to the rail) to assist with drainage and the galloping action of the horses in training, particularly around the bends. The Polytrack is very free draining, meaning track work can be held on a safe surface despite heavy rain.
The new Wyong Polytrack will be just over 1600m in circumference and 6m wide.
Stage Two of the Club’s Track and Training Master plan provides for the relocation of the workshop to the old VRA building on Rose Street, with the existing workshop being converted for additional concourse stabling. The club is also in discussion with Racing NSW around building new stabling at Wyong in the future, including the replacement of some of the existing older stable blocks.
Women In Racing Luncheon
Keep Tuesday 24 September free in your diary for our exciting new inaugural Women in Racing luncheon on this day.
The event will be hosted by Sky Racing’s Lizzie Jelfs and Wyong Race Club style ambassador Sam Woods.
A panel of prominent Women In Racing will talk about their involvement in this wonderful industry. There will be entertainment and prizes to be won and the promise of a wonderful day out at Wyong races. Plus, all sponsors and ticket purchasers will be invited to be the Club’s guest for the movie premiere on the evening of Monday 23 September at Events Cinema, Tuggerah of the new feature film Ride Like A Girl – the Melbourne Cup winning jacket Michelle Payne’s story which opens nationwide on Thursday that week. Bookings to the Womens in Racing luncheon and the movie premiere are sure to sell out quickly. Get together with your friends and book online through our website now or contact the office for more details.
New Owners & Training Viewing Hut
As part of the Club’s Track and Training Master planning the Club has built a new three level trainers and owners viewing hut at the gap – the area where the horses enter and exit the training tracks in the morning.
The Club employs a Track Work Supervisor, Pat Cass, who is on duty from 4am each morning to oversee the movement of horses on and off the training tracks and closely monitor track work, which is usually held in the dark, to ensure safety procedures are being followed and warn track users should a fall occur or a horse gets loose.
The new trainers hut includes a dedicated room at the top for the track supervisor, which provides him with an uninterrupted view across all of the training tracks.
Trainers can monitor track work from the middle floor room, which is nearly three times the size of the old trainers’ hut and as well as boasting reverse cycle air conditioning for these chilly early morning starts, there is a kitchenette for an early morning coffee or a quick breakfast. There is also an outside covered deck for trainers and owners to view track work that has been built just over one metre lower than the trainers’ lounge floor, ensuring that those people on the deck do not obscure the vision of people inside. The new Trainers’ hut cost around $120,000 and was finished in early June.
2020 Membership Renewals
Members should have received their 2020 Club membership renewal reminder in the mail recently. Your current Membership expires 30 July, 2019 with the new financial year beginning 1 July.
Members can now renew online, just remember to include your existing membership number. Members can also pay at the administration office during normal business hours, on raceday at the Raceday Office or by phoning the Club. Membership enquiries should be directed to Kylie McAlister or email info@wyongraceclub.com.au.
Your $55.00 membership (unchanged) includes free gate entry and Members Stand access for all 22 race days in 2019/20, together with a host of other benefits including 10% discount on drink purchasers on all race days, discounts on hospitality packages, regular updates and invites to special events and reciprocal membership privileges at other race meetings.
Don’t forget about our upcoming popular Members’ Raceday on Tuesday 23 July. No bookings are required. You are invited to join us on the top floor Murray Doyle Lounge for the afternoon. There are heaps of prizes to be won, guest interviews, complimentary afternoon tea will be provided and 30% discount applies for all drinks purchased on the day on production of your Membership card. Members Day is always a very popular and well attended event. We hope you will be able to join us on that day.
2019 Wyong Gold Cup Carnival launched
The countdown is on for the rich 2019 Wyong Gold Cup carnival in the first week of September.
Our flagship $160,000 Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup will be run on Friday 6 September headlining a high class meeting boasting $520,000 in prizemoney including the Listed $140,000 Winning Commercial Mona Lisa Stakes for the fillies and mares.
Cup Day hospitality packages for the top floor Murray Doyle Members’ luncheon will again sell out quickly. Book online or contact the Club for more details. The Club is delighted to welcome back Carlton & United Breweries as our major commercial partner. CUB have recently signed a new five year agreement with the Club. Fashions on the Field will be back and raceday hospitality bookings for our Gold Cup silk lined Trackside Marquee will also be on sale.
The 2019 Cup carnival opens with a subtle change in our marketing approach with our popular Sunday 1 September “Ladies Day” event being rebranded as our Star 104.5 Spring Celebration raceday this year.
The change reflects that we are racing this year on the first day of Spring and of course that mean’s it is going to be Father’s Day and what could be better than treating your man to a day out at the races?
As well as our Murray Doyle Members Spring Celebration Father’s Day luncheon package, the Club has an exciting and fun packed day planned in our “Hello Spring” Pavilion. Hosted by Sam Woods, there will be live musical entertainment between races with the Ben Woodham duo, as well as a special guest appearance by the very colourful Kara Zmatiq, who is widely acclaimed as Australia’s best singing Drag Queen. Kara has performed on stage and in Clubs throughout Australia after gaining fame on Australia’s Got Talent, where she wowed the judges.
You can dress to impress for our Style On Stage segment in the Hello Spring Pavilion with some great prizes as well as a very entertaining afternoon at the races on offer on the Sunday.
John Waghorn Elected Chairman
John Waghorn has replaced Garry Whitaker as the Wyong Race Club Chairman after Garry stepped down from the Board at the end of May.
John has been an elected member of the Board since November 2014 and had previously served on the Newcastle Jockey Club committee. A successful owner and an enthusiastic punter, prior to his retirement from full time work in 2011, John had worked in senior management roles at a number of local councils for over 25 years. His qualifications include both an Economics Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Management. John’s expertise lies in corporate governance, risk management, strategic planning and financial management. These are all areas where he has made a substantial contribution as a Director to the management of Wyong Race Club over the past four and a half years.
Under the Club’s constitution the Board cannot appoint a casual replacement for Garry Whitaker without holding an election. The Board has decided to operate with the six directors for now and will look to hold an election for a new director at the Annual General Meeting later this year.
Electrical Supply Upgrade
After almost 12 months review and planning the Club is ready to proceed with plans to remove all of the overhead power poles and lines that run from alongside the administration building, through the stabling area to the workshop.
Racing NSW is generously assisting with funding support for this project that will cost around $500,000 to complete. The mains power will now be taken from the substation underground including boring below the course proper and training tracks, through the infield of the racecourse and back under the track at the gap area. A new substation will be built alongside the new trainers hut and power will be supplied individually to each stable and the other buildings. The upgrade will eliminate the risk of the power supply being lost to all of the stables in the event that the existing overhead lines and or the old power poles ever came down.
