The Goondiwindi Race Club is eagerly looking forward to the annual Bush to Port Raceday on Saturday December 5 at Gunsynd Park, and patrons will notice even more improvements on top of the recent running rail addition.
One feature will be the long awaited refurbished starting gates that arrived this week.
The gates became available through the Palaszczuk Government’s Country Racing Funding Program that Racing Queensland has delivered across country tracks recently.
The fully refurbished the gates that were previously based at Clifford Park and the 16-stall gate set were reduced to 12, repainted and delivered to Gunsynd Park.
“It was obvious to the Committee that one of our biggest safety risks was the condition of the old barriers,” President Cutter Hayes said.
“When the opportunity came for the club to co-contribute to the generous offer by Racing Queensland, it was a no brainer.
“Participant safety is paramount if country racing is to enjoy the recent success and growth it has enjoyed - the deal was done”.
The other major improvement is the self-funded exclusion fence that now surrounds the course thanks to the support of a local donor.
“This was an even bigger safety concern to the Committee as the wildlife loose on the course was an accident in waiting,” Hayes said.
“Nearly every meeting, races are delayed as a quad bike or buggy is called on to clear the kangaroos from the track and it was an even bigger concern for local trainers that were working their horses early every morning.
“The committee assessed the safety risk and we firmly believe that we have reversed the risk factor to all concerned - again a no brainer.
“What was a major to catastrophic risk without the fencing has now been reversed to a low risk at best.
“There are still plenty projects to address but we firmly believe these two projects produced the two biggest safety risks by far.”
December 5 will see the annual running of the Bush to Port Raceday and already a number of Christmas Party bookings have been received.
The Club is still operating under the Racing Queensland COVID Safe Plan, with social distancing and contact tracing is imperative.
General admission should be booked online in order to assistance the contact tracing conditions.
With borders now open, it will be great to welcome back our NSW owners, trainers and jockeys who go a long way to making our Country Raceday.
Major sponsors, Port of Brisbane, will once again combine with Wagners, Graincorp, Qube Logistics, Interlink & Seaway who have long supported the day.
After the races, the crowd is welcome at the Golf Club next door for the community fun night and fireworks, and patrons are reminded they will need to complete contact tracing details at the Golf Club.