Straight Track Racing Coming To Richmond

THOSE that have frequented Richmond in the past fortnight will have noticed that work is well underway on the club's much anticipated straight track.

Tractors and excavators are in full swing in a bid to have racing at the straight track up and running by March next year.

And while the commencement of works for New South Wales' lone straight track is cause for much fanfare, interestingly, until now, there has been none.

Back in July 2017 the University of Technology Sydney presented their government commissioned report into greyhound racing which focused on ways of optimising greyhound track designs to better greyhound safety and welfare.

The report, which cost north of $1 million, developed 11 key recommendations for GRNSW to consider for implementation.

Front and centre of the recommendations was for the peak body to consider developing purpose-built straight tracks in the absence of former NSW straight track venues Wyong and Appin.   

Since the issuing of the report in mid-2017 straight track racing in other states has gone from strength-to-strength.

Capalaba has become a perfect destination for "straight trackers" in Queensland with their move to TAB racing proving hugely successful.

Healesville continues to play a significant role in Victoria while in South Australia, the Murray Bridge straight track, which was launched in July last year, has proven to be a shot in the arm for racing in that state.

And it's been that success which has had NSW participants yearning for movement on straight track racing, with Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) today proudly announcing the Richmond project is well underway.

"Greyhound Racing NSW is delighted that the straight track build at Richmond is well underway, the latest project funded by NSW Government's Safety & Welfare Capital Grants Program," GRNSW CEO Tony Mestrov said.

"The Richmond straight track has been a long time in planning and it is tremendous to see it now coming to fruition. The opening will be great news for the industry and its participants.

"The Richmond straight track is the latest initiative from GRNSW in line with its Strategic Plan 2018-2021 to improve welfare and safety in the greyhound racing industry."

Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson, followed by saying.

"The NSW Government is supportive of the development of straight track racing in NSW and it is great to see the work that has been done by Greyhound Racing NSW to progress the new straight track at Richmond Race Club," Minister Anderson said.

"The comprehensive greyhound welfare reforms we have brought in over the past few years have had a real impact in driving down injury rates in the sport, but there's more to be done.

"A key part of this is the introduction of more straight track training and racing, and GRNSW is to be congratulated on taking its first steps towards this new way of racing."

Designs have the straight track distance at Richmond to be 340 metres.

It's understood the construction of a straight track at Richmond is the first of three GRNSW will look to roll out across the state in the short to medium future.

Down south, Goulburn had been identified as a potential location while up north a straight track has been mooted for the proposed Tweed Heads Centre of Excellence.

Land for the new precinct was purchased at Chinderah back in August.