Gosford Racecourse: Major upgrade in the wings with $3.4m polytrack complete

Gosford Racecourse is coming in line with metro racecourses with a state-of-the-art new polytrack. However it appears this is just stage one of major plans to update the facility.

A $3.4m polytrack is bringing Gosford Racecourse in line with other major racecourse facilities.

However it has been revealed that the latest upgrade is just stage one of a bigger redevelopment in the wings for the popular track located at The Entertainment Grounds in Gosford.

Plans are being developed for a brand new stable facility, along with upgrading the current stables and a few more modern features such as equine pools.

The new polytrack was unveiled at the track on Wednesday, replacing the old synthetic turf. It is an all weather track which also improves the safety for both horses and riders.

The $3.4m polytrack unveiled at Gosford Racecourse.

Gosford Race Club chairman Michael Cusick said the track was stage one of a major redevelopment in the wings.

Gosford Race Club chairman Michael Cusick said the new polytrack would attract more trainers.

“This is probably the biggest investment and the most important cog in starting to attract trainers who potentially want to relocate from Sydney and or interstate,” he said.

“That’s the plan; to more than double the number of horses that train here on the course.

“This really is stage one in what we hope is a complete redevelopment including stabling of the training facility here at Gosford.”

Mr Cusick said Racing NSW had bought land behind the facility with a view for brand new stabling. He said other plans in the wings include upgrading the existing stables as well as bring in features such as equine pools and walkers.

Mr Cusick said the old synthetic track had reached its used by date.

“We had been patching it up for years but reality came that we couldn’t continue to do that,” he said.

“We had to do this or really look at potentially closing training down here altogether.”

Horse trainer Gregory Mcfarlane said the new track puts Gosford on par with other major tracks.

The track is made from recycled materials including carpet.

Sydney-based trainer Gregory McFarlane, who trains around 20 horses on the Central Coast, said the new polytrack was a great advancement for trainers at Gosford.

“A lot of the trainers up here have had a lot of success but this will increase it even more,” he said. “This gives us great consistency to train in.”

He described Gosford as a “little gold mine facility” and said the new polytrack “helps put us on par with the Sydney tracks”.

The polytrack was completed thanks to funding from the State Government.

Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch said the new track would give the local racing community access to first class facilities.

Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch at the unveiling of the polytrack.

“This investment will not only ensure the ongoing sustainability of racing in our region, but importantly it will allow local trainers to compete with Provincial and City based trainers on an equal footing in respect of access to modern training infrastructure and facilities, allowing country horses to be more competitive,” he said.

“We love our racing on the Central Coast and we are starting to prove ourselves as one of the leading jurisdictions for thoroughbred racing in the country. This is an industry that supports more than 850 jobs across the Central Coast.”

He said the flow on affects from this investment included people flocking to Gosford for the races, staying in local hotels, eating at local cafes, and shopping in local stores.

The Entertainment Grounds chief executive officer Daniel Lacey said Gosford Race Club had been around for more than 100 years.

“The new track safeguards horse training on the Central Coast for many years and will increase local jobs as the volume of horses trained at Gosford Racecourse increases,” he said.

“Everyone associated with the club are excited to begin seeing the benefits of this investment”.