Randwick Racecourse light proposal will allow for night racing events

Night racing would be the winner and daylight second under a plan being canvassed to light up Royal Randwick after dark.

Floodlit night racing could soon be a reality for sixteen nights of the year at Royal Randwick.

The Australian Turf Club is canvassing neighbours of the iconic racecourse for their opinion ahead of putting in a planning application with Randwick City Council by the end of the month.

“Night racing at Royal Randwick is part of the Australian Turf Club’s long-term planning vision to make the precinct a broader entertainment hub for Sydney,’’ Australian Turf Club Chairman Matthew McGrath said.

“This has been on the ATC’s radar for several years and we are now talking to the local community and keeping our stakeholders fully up to date on the progress of our planning.”

The proposal would see sixteen night races to held at Randwick Racecourse each year.

The $20 million project would put 79 poles ranging from 17 to 40 metres high right around the course and illuminate it with energy efficient LED floodlights.

The ATC is currently compiling an environmental-impact statement to look at the impact of the lights on the community and road users and the effect of any extra traffic.

Australian Turf Club Chairman Matthew McGrath. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Night racing will continue at Canterbury with the Randwick night races aimed at enhancing the major Spring and Autumn Carnivals. The 16 races would mostly be held during daylight saving between October and April and would wrap up by 10pm.

Other venues already host regular night events including ANZ Stadium which has 49 and Allianz Stadium which has 34.

“Royal Randwick is a world-class racing venue and adding night racing would make it an even bigger attraction for visitors to Sydney around our major carnivals,” Mr McGrath said.

“We would hope to have night racing in future years in the lead up to Spring and make it a part of a week-long Everest experience for interstate and overseas visitors.

“This would also be done around the two weeks of The Championships during the Autumn as another destination event for the city.”

The night races would be a further boost for jobs and the economy.

The racing industry in NSW already has 27,600 full time jobs and pumps $3.5 billion into the economy.

Mr McGrath said: “These events around our major racing Carnivals in Spring and Autumn would be hosted like no other race club in the world could do on such a scale.’’

The $20 million project would put 79 poles ranging from 17 to 40 metres high right around the course.

Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said: “This is a fantastic idea. Anything that generates a level of interest in people visiting Sydney is a good thing.

“The racing calendar has an enormous ripple effect which is not just what happens on the course but the shoes, the fashion, the restaurants, the car hire that goes with it.

“What we desperately need now are good ideas like this that will help Sydneysiders fall in love with the diversity of their city once again,” she said.

The ATC is also looking at turning the infield of Randwick Racecourse as a landing zone for a tandem skydiving business.