Sale Greyhound Racing Club is in the final stages of its six-month and more than $4 million investment into upgrading the club’s racetrack.
The Sale Greyhound Racing Club redevelopment is the first of several infrastructure upgrades to greyhound racing clubs state-wide as part of Greyhound Racing Victoria’s five-year, $50 multimillion investment to provide the highest quality racing environments for greyhounds, participants and patrons.
Initiating the largest investment undertaken by the industry, construction on the Sale Greyhound Racing Club racetrack began in January and is on course to be completed by September.
Last week, participants were invited for their second guided walk of the project, highlighting the changes and improvements at every corner, including a two-metre increase in track width, transitions to all four corners, a new racing surface and upgrades to lighting, rails, fencing and irrigation.
With greyhound racing congestion commonly occurring at the entrance to the first bend, transitions help reduce disturbances in quadruped gait symmetry.
Increasing the width of the track and constructing a new racetrack surface provides additional safety to the greyhound’s racing.
Larger transitions, improved lighting and irrigation complimented by new fencing, timing and kennelling areas were highlighted on the 30-minute Sale Greyhound Racing Club track tour, which concluded with a complimentary morning tea and question time.
Rebuilt in 2004, GRV says the Sale Greyhound Racing Club racetrack redevelopment is a necessary upgrade, replacing ageing infrastructure that is reaching the end date of its practical life.
The redevelopment supports GRV’s adherence to greyhound welfare, safety, and sustainability. It also reinforces the industry’s commitment to supporting local communities, with Sale Greyhound Racing Club exclusively employing local contractors for the racetrack redevelopment.
Sale Greyhound Racing Club general manager Peter Johnston said the redevelopment was part of GRV’s investment to provide the highest quality racing environments for greyhounds, participants and patrons.
“With the support of GRV, the significant investment in the Sale Greyhound Club has already benefited many local contractors and suppliers,” Johnston said.
“But importantly, it has also provided confidence for the hundreds and hundreds of Gippsland participants who race their athletes at our track on a weekly basis.”
With Sale Greyhound Racing Club in the final fine-tuning phases of the track redevelopment, the local greyhound racing club is set to commence on-track trials the week of July 17, leading to a twilight race meeting on Saturday, August 12.
Father’s Day on Sunday, September 3 marks the official return to racing at the Sale Greyhound Racing Club.
“The Sale Greyhound Club is obviously eager to showcase the many improvements both off and on the track that have taken place over the past six months,” Johnson said.
“Father’s Day and greyhound racing are set to provide a great opportunity for fathers and families to visit on our first race day, on the first Sunday of September.”
