Turf club’s right on track for underpass

PLANS for a pedestrian underpass under the Fannie Bay dirt track are being ­finalised.

Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon and CEO Keith Stacy {Right}at site of new tunnel under track at the Darwin turf Club.

PLANS for a pedestrian underpass under the Fannie Bay dirt track are being ­finalised.

Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon told the NT News yesterday he wanted the project in time for this year’s Darwin Cup Carnival.

“An underpass of this nature takes a lot of planning and documentation,” he said. “We are working with a team of consulting engineers who are also friends of the turf club to put together a structure that works.”

The club is close to identifying the site for the tunnel, about 20m from the finishing line, and Mr Dixon would like the drawings for the tunnel proposal as soon as possible to determine the cost.

Touch football, which uses part of the centre of the racecourse three times a week, would also benefit.

“That will also keep them off the track, which again provides greater safety for our industry participants for trackwork during the week,” Mr Dixon said.

“First and foremost we must get this tunnel in somehow in time for the Cup Carnival.

“Track safety is our No.1 priority.

“The Giles Government has been supportive of racing and we have had some good discussions recently regarding not just the tunnel but the industry as a whole.”

The tunnel proposal was included in discussions at the inquest into the death of jockey Simone Montgomerie on the track on Darwin Cup Day in 2013.

While NT Coroner Greg Cavanagh found the jockey’s death was, in the most part, a tragic accident, he conceded that her horse, Riahgrand, was startled by a track crossing.

Mr Cavanagh found Riahgrand’s reaction was “exceptional and unexpected”.

As a result of Montgomerie’s death, Darwin Turf Club relocated the crossing from 200m before the finishing post to 70m past it .