GOSFORD’S REMEDIATION PLAN TO GET BACK ON TRACK

GOSFORD has undertaken further work on its new track in a bid to prevent further incidents which caused the loss of the last two meetings.

And the club remains confident the remediation plan will be successful and allow for the forthcoming Anzac Day program and the $2m 10-race The Coast meeting, its biggest of the year, to proceed as scheduled.

Gosford Race Club chief executive Daniel Lacey has written to members to advise them of the latest developments in the wake of meetings on March 27 and two days ago being called off after four and two races respectively had been run when two horses slipped at different sections of the track.

“Following consultation with industry experts, we now have a specific plan moving forward,” Lacey said.

“New tracks are notoriously difficult to manage due to a change in profile (sub-turf layers), and we believe this profile has caused our recent issues.

“A hard layer or ‘crust’ has formed at the top of the profile, and this layer, in sections, has restricted horses from digging into the track, thus causing a slip.”

Lacey said after the March 27 meeting (when only four races were run), the club extensively verti-drained the new section, which saw 100mm steel lines penetrating the track in order to increase aeration and break up layers.

“We then sliced the track; this process involved rotary blades cutting through the track in a linear fashion to break down the layers further.

“A set of jumpouts occurred with RacingNSW stewards in attendance to observe if there were any signs of further slipping, which there were not.

“We were then cleared to race on April 10.”

Lacey said that due to last Thursday’s incident when Emery slipped rounding the turn after passing the winning post in the second race, further work was now required.

“We immediately contacted leaders in track and soil management, and they inspected our track yesterday morning.

“They confirmed that a crust layer has formed and needs to be decompressed.

“The remediation plan is to first top-dress the new section with a 5mm layer of drainage sand, and a soil aggravator will then be used.

“This device is specifically used to break up hard soil layers, decompress soil and aerate the profile.

“It is a minimally invasive process and isn’t expected to harm the turf. In fact it will promote further growth.”

A set of jumpouts will be held on Thursday and, if cleared, the club intends to race on both Anzac Day and at The Coast meeting on May 10.

Lacey added that the team which inspected the track yesterday morning was confident the remediation plan would be successful.

As well, the club will continue to closely monitor the track’s condition to ensure no recurrences of recent incidents.

“On a positive note, the issue that we encountered was not caused by returning to racing within a specific timeframe,” Lacey said.

“The root system is extremely healthy, and the turf is not shifting.

“We have also held two full race meetings (on February 22 and the Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier onMarch 15), with some races at capacity and no issues.

“Additionally, the club has conducted three sets of jumpouts, all with no issues and over 300 horse movements occurred prior to the first incident (on March 27).”

Lacey said that with leaders in track and turf management guiding the club, in conjunction with the expert knowledge of track manager Steve Scollard, everything possible will be explored to ensure that the track does not encounter any further setbacks.

. HOOFNOTE: Provincial trainers won three races at Port Macquarie, with Wyong’s Mark Cross bringing off a $51 upset with Executive Decision (apprentice Millie Thompson) in the Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

Gosford’s Angela Davies scored with Cashaway Gold ($3.10), and Newcastle’s Nathan Doyle was successful with Body OfVenus ($5).

Story John Cuftis, April 12. 2025