Revealed: Design of new $42m Winx Stand at Royal Randwick
Winx cemented her place as one of Australia’s greatest sporting icons by winning 33 races in a row. Now the design — including artist impressions and other details — has been revealed for the Royal Randwick stand named in her honour.
Southern Courier
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The plans for Royal Randwick Racecourse’s $42 million tribute to Winx have been revealed.
The Australian Turf Club announced in May that it was planning to build the Winx Stand in honour of the legendary Australian racehorse.
The plans have now been released with artist’s impressions showing what the stunning structure will look like.
The proposal is now on public exhibition and people can now have their say on the proposed facility and design.
The Winx Stand will cost $42 million to build and will have a capacity of 7500 patrons.
It will stand two-storeys tall (or 19.8m) and measure 100m across, featuring a foot bridge connecting it with the existing QEII Grandstand.
“The new multipurpose facility will be located on the existing Leger Lawn fronting the racetrack which currently is under-utilised and contains no permanent structures, but often has temporary marquee structures installed for large scale race-day events,” the proposal states.
“The Winx Stand development will be a multipurpose, two-storey facility to be used primarily for general admission patrons on race day events and for non-race day events including functions, corporate events, exhibitions and (UNSW) examinations.”
A laneway will also be built between the new stand and the multi-deck car park which was completed in 2018.
The ground floor of the Winx Stand will feature a 100m long hall space, kitchens, multiple bars and amenities.
The upper level will feature a 60m long hall space, 40m long open terrace and a balcony extending the entire length of the building.
Bars and kitchens will also be included in the upper level.
Australian Turf Club chairman Matthew McGrath said in May that the proposed development would ensure Winx’s achievements would live on.
“Winx has provided us with a lifetime of memories and now her name and career will be linked at Royal Randwick and the scene of some her most famous wins,” Mr McGrath said.
“This new spectator facility at Royal Randwick will provide racing fans with further comfort on major race days including Australia’s richest race The Everest and Sydney’s world-class Autumn Racing Carnival.”
The Australian Turf Club aims to have the Winx Stand open to the public for the running of The Everest in October 2020.
Royal Randwick Racecourse has a long history within Australia’s racing culture with the first recorded horse race on the site in 1833.
The racecourse has undergone significant upgrades in recent years including the Queen Elizabeth (QEII) Grandstand and Theatre of the Horse facilities both completed in 2013.
The multi-deck car park, which includes race day stalls, was completed in September 2018.