One death is too many, which is why Sale Greyhound Racing Club and Greyhound Racing Victoria has invested more than $4 million into upgrading the club’s racetrack.
The Sale redevelopment is the first of several key infrastructure upgrades to greyhound racing clubs state wide as part of the largest investment undertaken by the industry to provide the highest quality racing environments possible for greyhounds, participants and patrons.
Initiating GRV’s five-year, $50 multimillion investment, reinforcing GRV’s commitment to greyhound welfare, safety, and sustainability and supporting local communities, construction on the Sale Greyhound Racing Club racetrack began in January and is expected to be complete by September.
Solely employing local contractors, the Sale Greyhound Racing Club’s racetrack redevelopment includes 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. Basically, transitions slow the dogs down as they approach the bend, theoretically decreasing the likelihood of a collision.
Increasing the width of the track and constructing a new racetrack surface provides additional safety to the greyhound’s racing.
Upon completion, there will be three new racing distances at the Sale: 640 metres, 510m and 430m.
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 is estimated to cost between $4.2 and $4.4 million, most of which is funded by the Sale Greyhound Racing Club, with some money coming from GRV and $1.8 million from the federal government.
“There is no doubt a $4 million investment by the industry in our club’s racetrack upgrade is an enormous vote of confidence in both us and the local community,” Sale Greyhound Racing Club general manager Peter Johnston said.
“Importantly, we anticipate that within 12 months or so of re-opening the improvements in track safety will be shown to have been beneficial to participants and their athletes.
“With improvements to track surface, rail, fencing, irrigation and lighting the investment has been significant and one that has been long wanted by our participants, we feel proud that their support will now be rewarded with the best possible facilities.”
Unlike other greyhound racing clubs across the state, Sale Greyhound Racing Club operates seven days a week, regardless of whether they host races.
The track’s closure and temporary suspension of racing has resulted in a 25 per cent drop in weekly revenue, an additional price to the track’s redevelopment costs.
Sale Greyhound Racing Club is a major sponsor for local sporting clubs and injects $3.5 million annually into the community through employee wages alone, in addition to sourcing local vendors, suppliers and businesses for everything from food and beverage to security and accounting and everything in between.
“Even with the already strong existing connection we have with local sporting clubs, charities and non-for-profits, the recent upgrade of our venue and imminent upgrade of our racetrack has ignited an even greater interest from those same organisations with a long list already on file to be part of what we plan to deliver once opening later in the year,” Mr Johnston said.
“Our mission statement demands continual development, improvement and sound financial development, providing a venue that supports quality racing and training facilities; there is no ‘finish line’, we expect to provide a safer and more enjoyable track on re-opening, but it’s also just another step in aiming to be the best that we can.
“The sport of greyhound racing within the Wellington Shire and Gippsland area supports thousands of participants and their families, the upgrade of our track, therefore, provides those same people, ‘our family’, with some confidence and security for their futures, whilst also enabling them to enjoy their sporting passion with the animals they love.”
