Seymour racecourse is ready to get back to racing following a turbulent few years.
Racing Minister Anthony Carbines on Wednesday, August 24, visited the club and was keen to see the progress.
The purpose of the minister’s visit was to see progress on the installation of a much-needed lift to the Bar Landy Restaurant, which did not previously have wheelchair access.
Operations officer Jessica Jackson is relieved the lift installation will allow for easier access to the venue, not just for patrons on race day, but for staff stocking the venue and for using the space for a variety of community events outside of racing.
“I always feel so mortified to turn people away … in the past we’ve actually carried people upstairs,” Jackson said.
The track has held only a small amount of meetings in the past few years, following an unsuccessful track redevelopment in 2015. Prior to that, it was considered one of the jewels in the crown of Racing Victoria.
Track manager Brett Thompson says that following the 2015 redevelopment the track underperformed and the decision was made to redo the growing medium of the track with much better results.
“The track is showing really promising signs,’’ Thompson said.
“We think we’ve got a fantastic racing surface going forward,
“Obviously it’s still a young track, but it will just keep growing in over time with more racing and become better and better.”
Despite the lack of punters the club has been busy.
Projects around the club have been numerous, meaning the return to racing is going to provide a better experience than ever before.
Renovations include a new swabbing stall, horse urinal, renovation of the club’s second restaurant, The Winning Post, and two new decks outside the restaurants.
The Seymour Cup will still be held off site this year at Bendigo on Sunday, October 2.
A free bus will be run for members from Seymour to Bendigo for the day.
Remembrance Members’ Day on November 11 will be the first meeting to be held back at Seymour.
There are nine meetings scheduled at Seymour in the first season back.
Seymour chief executive Brett Shambrook says the reopening will be about easing back into racing and giving the track some time to consolidate.
“We’ve had our return to racing trials and got the tick off from the jockeys and the trainers and the stewards,’’ Shambrook said
“We’ll have a softish opening on November 11 and then our first feature race meeting will be on Thursday, December 22.’’
The club’s staff and racing community is looking forward to welcoming guests back through the gates.
The December meeting is intended to be an opportunity for local businesses and the broader community to get together for Christmas parties and work break-ups in a way that hasn’t been possible in the past few years.
“Hopefully for the next season we will be in a position to go back to our 18-20 meetings a year,’’ Shambrook said.
“We’re back racing and this time it’s for good,
“After six months, 12 months back racing I think we will reestablish ourselves as the finest racing venue in the north-east of Victoria.’’