Newcastle On Track For Boxing Day Meet

The Boss of Racing NSW, Peter V’Landys, has assured punters that the racing surface at Newcastle can get back to a fair and safe standard.

He’s also said it’s workable that this be done before the annual Boxing Day Meeting that is one of the most profitable all year.

The track was closed back on October 20 and works have been frantically undertaken to bring the course up to scratch in a timely manner.

Jockeys raised concerns about the Broadmeadow circuit and said a number of undulations had made it unsafe.

V’Landys though says not only will the problems be rectifies by Boxing Day, they’ll also be fixed for good.

“Once and for all the problem of the corrugations in the track will be fixed,” V’Landys said.

“Dave Hodgson, a former track manager at Randwick, has overseen the work and he is very happy with the progression.

“New turf has been laid on the problem areas and it has taken as good as we could have liked.

“The weather has been perfect for growing grass, we had plenty of rain and equal amounts of sunshine too.

“We are still monitoring the root system but all the indicators are that it is all going to plan and will be back for Boxing Day.”

Were the Boxing Day meeting not to go ahead it would spell disaster for the Newcastle Jockey Club as it’s one of the major money spinners outside their main carnival.

Current forecasts are for horses to return to the track on December 15 for morning trackwork and to test the surface.

The first set of trials will be held on December 19 to give the circuit a full work out.

Assuming everything goes to plan Newcastle would be clear to return to full scale racing by December 26.

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