Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) is delighted to announce that racing will commence at the newly-upgraded racetrack at Lithgow in November.
The club will host its first race meeting at the multi-million dollar venue as a twilight race card on November 2.
“You are always a little hesitant to put a finish date on track works and track upgrades and set an official opening date as mother nature so frequently intervenes, but we are confident that the Lithgow track will be ready to go,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said.
“The Lithgow track is progressing as scheduled with the majority of track works completed. The patron amenities, buildings and grandstand will be completed during August.
“The installation of the track lightning and the judge’s tower will also be completed and in place by August, and we have been informed that all works will be completed by the end of September.
“We will then conduct trials during October and be ready for our long-awaited, first race meeting at Lithgow on Monday, November 2.”
The Minister for Gaming and Racing the Hon. David Harris announced the upgrade in December last year and it is hopeful he will be able to officially open the track.
Work commenced in January and since then there has been a complete rebuild of the racetrack undertaken including the installation of a new rail system, with a SafeChase rail and lure, the kennel block and public amenities have been refurbished. Broadcast-standard lighting averaging 900 lux is being installed, and the tower, which will be used by the judge, stewards and for broadcasters – similar to the modular design in place at Taree – will be also installed.
The track has also been widened and now has radii of 52.7 metres and a new 620m start.
“The maintenance shed has been demolished and will be rebuilt and we are doing enhancement work on the main gate entrance to the facility to provide a more welcoming experience for patrons,” Mr Griffin said.
“The imminent opening of the Lithgow facility is not only wonderful news for participants on the other side of the Blue Mountains and in the Central West who have been without a local track since Bathurst closed in November 2022, but this is great news for all participants offering a new safe, state of the art facility which our industry can be proud of.”
