Menangle Park Paceway Open Day - Sunday 4th May 2008

Participants, NSWHRC Club members, harness racing officials and the wider community will have the chance to get their first look at the new Menangle Park facility when the NSW Harness Racing Club conducts an Open Day on Sunday, May 4.

With works on the complex almost finished, the Club is inviting anybody and everybody to inspect the Paceway with their own eyes.

Those who attend the Open Day, which commences from 11 am, will get to see horses being worked exclusively on the new 1400-metre circuit.

Club Chairman Rex Horne will welcome all those who attend at 12 noon with proceedings being compared by Marshall Dobson. A complimentary barbeque will follow.

The track itself is now suitable for trackwork and last Tuesday morning, the first horses were able to be worked on the circuit, with Peter Morris and Ian Thorn getting the first taste of the new surface.

Ian Thorn was extremely impressed with the speed of the track with one of his horses, handled by his son David, sprinting up a ultra slick 400 metres in 27.8 seconds.

As of today (Thursday), accredited Menangle Park trainers will be able to work their horses on the track also.

The Open Day will see all those in attendance given a guided tour of the facility and its completed buildings and surroundings, as well as featuring if they wish to take on the 1400 metres the opportunity to walk the track.

The project itself is near completion with only cosmetic touches needing to be finalised for the official grand opening, which is scheduled for June 29.

""We believe the trainers, drivers, owners and general participants will be thoroughly pleased with what they see at Menangle," NSWHRC Chief Executive, John Dumesny said.

"Horses began working on the new track last Tuesday and as of Thursday, all accredited Menangle Park trainers will also be able to work their horses on it too, to bed the surface down.

"Under instruction from Dan Coon (track designer) we want to get a controlled number of horses working on the track before we contemplate trials."

"The only major infrastructure component to be completed is the timing system which will commence early next week and is expected to be commissioned by the middle of May."

"Plenty of work has been undertaken in recent weeks however the volunteer works will continue to ensure the grand opening on Sunday June 29 will be a success."

The feature of the Official Opening Day will now only be unveiling the best track in Australasia but also a record seven Group One events.