GOSFORD READY TO RESUME ON OAKS DAY

A new date will launch Gosford’s return to racing in a fortnight.

The Entertainment Grounds will stage a meeting for the first time in more than two months on Thursday, November 6 – which coincides with Oaks day at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival – after Hawkesbury relinquished its traditional date to move its Ladies’ Day fixture to the Saturday (November 8).

Gosford last raced on Friday, August 29 (the club’s only meeting so far this season) after which extensive work began with the aim of creating a more consistent surface on the entire 1718m circumference of the track.

This followed an earlier major project from around the 600m mark to just past the winning post, with a focus on recambering the home turn to a gradient of six per cent.

“After our August 29 meeting, we replaced the remainder of the old track from the crossing to the 630m,” racecourse manager Steve Scollard said this morning.

“Seven hundred tonnes of sand was put on the entire track after work on the old section was completed.

“Prior to this being done we were getting inconsistent surfaces between the new section and the old.”

Gosford was to have raced today, but swapped with Hawkesbury to ensure the new section is ready for the November 6 meeting.

“We were still getting cool mornings in September, and as a result the ground temperature just wasn’t right,” Scollard said.

“By waiting another fortnight, we will be ready to race again in time for a very busy period over the next couple of months.

“I wouldn’t mind a bit of rain either. There is some forecast for next week.”

Following the November 6 resumption, Gosford also will stage meetings for the remainder of the calendar year on Saturday, November 22, Thursday, December 4 and 18, Sunday December 28 and Wednesday December 31.

The Entertainment Grounds also will race on Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 17 during the summer holiday period.

The Sunday meeting in December features the Group 3 Belle of the Turf (1600m) for fillies and mares, Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) for three-year-olds, and 1200m Malcolm Cusick Stakes (a Class 4 Handicap).

The Belle of the Turf, run under Quality conditions, carries a $300,000 purse, and the Guineas, at set weights and penalties, is for $200,000.

Because of the major work being undertaken, last year’s Belle of the Turd fixture was transferred to Wyong and held on New Year’s Eve.

Chris Waller won the mares’ feature with Konasana (Regan Bayliss), whilst fellow Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker snared both the Gosford Guineas and Malcolm Cusick Stakes with Dance To The Boom (a Warwick Farm winner yesterday) and Slinky respectively.

Rachel King rode both horses.

Story John Curtis, October 23, 2025