THE Mount Gambier Racing Club says the decision to change next year’s Scott Group of Companies gold cup to early December was made in a whirlwind of activity for officials this week.
“Everything has happened so quickly since the Federal Government funding announcement for the track redevelopment,” club president John Fartch said.
“The change of the gold cup date has been dropped on us pretty quickly and I hope everybody appreciates that, including our sponsors.”
Explaining the detail of the cup was still being worked through, he said more information would flow from Thoroughbred Racing SA next week.
“But Friday, December 1, is definitely locked in and there will be marquees and the fashions on the field,” Mr Fartch told The Border Watch yesterday.
“We are already getting inquiries for marquees, which is a positive sign.”
Mr Fartch foreshadowed he was expecting a large crowd given it was summer and in the lead-up to Christmas.
“If it isn’t as big as usual, it won’t be far off – our phones have been ringing,” he said.
“We plan to promote it as a Christmas show venue for businesses and friends.”
Works on the $3.3m redevelopment of the track will get under way after the December gold cup and the next cup will be held mid-2019.
Mr Fartch also revealed the club would use the lengthy track shut-down to roll-out other projects at the racecourse.
The club plans to landscape the main entrance to make the course look more presentable and the upstairs members room will have a makeover given it is used as a function room outside of race meetings.
“There are projects to be done around the course, which we can hopefully get done in the 12 months,” Mr Fartch said.
“When we come back, the club will be bigger and better than ever.”
Mr Fartch also called for the regional trainers to throw their support behind the redevelopment of the track.
He said the track overhaul was a crucial step in growing the racing sector, including regional jobs.
“The trainers won’t miss out, they should have no problems working their horses,” said Mr Fartch, who explained the sand and steeple tracks would remain open for most of the time during the redevelopment.
“This is why we have brought forward the cup, so we can alleviate any problems for trainers,” he said.
“All we are asking is the trainers work with us and appreciate what the track will be when it is finished.”
He said the club hoped the new free-draining track would underpin growth in the number of race meetings each year.
“If we can get up to 18 race meetings a year, that would be a big boost for the regional economy,” he said.
The club currently has 10 scheduled race meetings each year, but some of these have been called off because of the waterlogged track.
The club has lost an average of two race meetings every year over the past five years due to the bungled track.
Mr Fartch said he particularly wanted to thank the Scott family – including Zena Winser and Ray Scott – for their ongoing sponsorship and confidence in the future of the club and its facilities.
