By Tony McMahon
Whilst Callaghan Park racecourse is enjoying a four-week respite from racing, the grass track certainly hasn’t been laying idle and sunning itself.
Immediately after the completion of the last Rockhampton race meeting on August 31, the track became the mecca for a revamp.
Three trucks carrying tractors, mowers, grass screeners, specialist implements and other machinery had arrived in waiting from the Sunshine Coast.
The accompanying gang of turf specialists got to work on resurrecting the busy grass track from September 1.
The work on the track involved moderate scarification and mow down to 50mm, followed by the grass course proper being cored to a dept of 100mm before being top dressed with sand.
The final maintenance process involved aerating the track with 18mm of solid tines to a depth of 180mm.
After the sand was brushed into the grass track, the works were completed mid-morning Wednesday, September 8.
Rockhampton Jockey Club racecourse manager Trent Williams said he was very happy with the end result.
“Work started and the team specialists from Twin View Turf were very professional and co-operative to work with," Williams said.
"These people are professional turf farmers and the company has the contract with Racing Queensland to provide the maintenance works on all the TAB northern tracks.
"They did the Townsville tack before it’s recent Carnival.
"From here, they left for Cairns to commence works on the track there on Monday after the Amateur Carnival.”
The track manager said a detailed day-by-day program had been provided by Racing Queensland for the use of chemicals and fertilisation on the Callaghan Park course proper through to October 7.
“I couldn’t be happier with the works that have taken place”, Williams said.
He said weather permitting, the rejuvenated Rockhampton track should be good for the next meeting scheduled there for Tuesday, September 28.
The Rockhampton Jockey Club has received pleasing entries for its transferred TAB races scheduled for Keppel Park, Yeppoon next Tuesday.
The $18 million Open Handicap (1000m) has attracted some brilliant short course speedsters including The Egyptian, Princess Rules, Chezblack and Aleysa’s Dream.
At the Townsville TAB card on Thursday, Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor’s Bustedup won his fourth consecutive race making it seven wins from 10 starts.
Callaghan Park trainer Graeme Green also scored with Ahooshu bringing up three consecutive wins.
Finally, the Ricky Vale-trained Stubai and Namazu are ideally draw to figure prominently in Saturday’s $150K Cairns Amateurs Cup (2100m).