Menangle Park On-Track

August 2007

Families, local charities and youth organisations will be central to the marketing of the Club’s grand re-opening of Menangle Park Paceway next year.

The picturesque paceway will be officially opened on Sunday, April 27 and plans are well advanced to mark the occasion with all the pomp and ceremony that befits the launching of an exciting new era for NSW harness racing.

The official opening on the 1400-metre track will feature the running of the Christian Cullen NSW Derby and the rich Rock and Earth Exchange Menangle Park Cup. Then, on Sunday May 25, Harness Racing NSW has sanctioned the two inaugural $125,000 Breeders’ Challenge races to be run at Menangle.

The new track will also showcase the NSW breeding industry on Sunday, June 29, with four $100,000 NSW Sires’ Stakes finals. All three meetings – run as afternoon fixtures - will be covered by Sky Channel.

"These meetings will focus on the community of the Macarthur District and will be family orientated taking full advantage of the spacious grassed areas at the Paceway," Club Deputy Chairman Rex Horne said.

"Local charities and youth organisations will be invited to participate and benefit from these race meetings."

Work for a major upgrade of the existing grandstand facility and refurbishments to other buildings will be put out to tender later this month.

"The volunteer group has continued their fantastic efforts each and every Saturday with the buildings now cleared for the builder when selected to commence the refurbishment.

"Work is almost completed on the parade area which being directly in front of the buildings will showcase the horses to the patrons whilst the stables upgrade commenced at the end of July.

The stables which consist of 104 raceday stalls and amenities will be covered in the centre breezeway and have a concrete apron four metres wide around the entire structure and also concrete through the floor of the centre breezeway.

The entire upgrade will ensure the facilities provided will be equal to – or better – than any other provincial or country harness racing track in NSW. Once racing is re-established at Menangle, the Club will be ready to move on to the next stage of the development.

Stage two of the overall project will be to construct and provide permanent stabling on the 106 hectare property for the use of local and visiting trainers. The Club is in the process of delivering a Concept Master Plan to Campbelltown City Council within the next two months.

This is expected to be a major component of the entire development of the Menangle Park precinct.