Archive for March, 2010

Werribee racing back on track

Global Barrier Systems, Mawsafe•on March 9th, 2010•No Comments
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On the rails: Rob Hulls, Wyndham Mayor Heather Marcus, Tarneit MP Tim Pallas and Werribee Racing Club committee member Leon Koch with the new plastic running rail to be installed as part of the track upgrade. Picture: Cathy Jackson

RACING Victoria has confirmed Werribee will host up to 10 meetings a season when the sport resumes in the city on December 18 following a three-year break and the completion of a $5million track upgrade.

The new surface will get its first test when the $1.4million International Horse Quarantine Centre plays host to international raiders during this year’s Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Rob Hulls visited the racecourse last Friday to inspect the site for the new centre, where he revealed the track would be one of 26 in Victoria to be installed with plastic running rails, providing the safest conditions in Australia for horses and jockeys.

Work on the new quarantine centre, which includes an equine surgery, should begin next month. It replaces the existing centre at Sandown racecourse.

Mr Hulls said the centre, along with new stabling facilities and a high-standard track, would make Werribee the ideal place for international owners and trainers to quarantine their horses while in Victoria.

Although the track reconstruction was delayed due to the collapse of project manager Akron last week, Racing Victoria has re-employed the company’s contractors to complete the job.

With the base for the track already down, the club expects the turf to be laid within three weeks.

The State Government will provide $1.1million towards the quarantine centre and $2.5million for the track’s reconstruction, with Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria to meet the remaining costs.

The new track will have a field capacity of 14 for annual race meetings held between December and August. It will allow for races over eight distances and trials over 800metres and feature comprehensive drainage and irrigation systems.

Racing Victoria chief operating officer Bernard Saundry said the track and plastic running rails would significantly enhance the safety and appeal of racing at Werribee, while the quarantine centre would be a key asset.

“The state-of-the-art quarantine centre will be critical in attracting international participation in Victoria’s feature thoroughbred races, particularly during the spring racing carnival, and will indeed put Werribee on the world racing map.”

Werribee Racing Club committee member Leon Koch said he was excited racing would soon return.

The club hosted its last race meeting in November 2007, during which jockeys walked off due to safety concerns with the track.

BY CAMERON TAIT
17 Feb, 2010

Bendigo Jockey Club on the right rails

Global Barrier Systems, Mawsafe•on March 1st, 2010•No Comments

12 February 2010,

Bendigo Weekly

Rob-Hulls

Minister Rob Hulls and Bendigo Jockey Club president Brendan Drechsler check out one of the new plastic rails.

Bendigo Jockey Club will receive new plastic running rails as part of a state-wide rollout to improve racetrack safety, Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Rob Hulls announced today.
Bendigo is the first of 25 regional and rural racing clubs to receive funding for the new rails that will add to Victoria’s reputation as running one of the best racing industries in the world.
Mr Hulls said Bendigo would receive $97,000 to install 2520 metres of plastic running rails, which had been developed and produced in Victoria and would significantly improve safety for jockeys and horses during races and training.
“The safety of jockeys and horses is paramount to a healthy racing industry and, once installed, these new plastic running rails will ensure the highest standard of safety for race participants anywhere in Australia,” he said.
“Bendigo is one of Victoria’s premier racing locations and produces about 1350 starters in races each year, which is why the Brumby Labor Government is funding this project in conjunction with Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) and Country Racing Victoria (CRV).”
The Brumby Labor Government is contributing more than $2 million to the plastic running rails project through its $86 million Regional Racing Infrastructure Fund with RVL and CRV jointly contributing $231,500.
Mr Hulls said Mordialloc plumber Dan Mawby invented the new railing system, called MawSafe rails, and was featured on the ABC program The New Inventors last year.
The Victorian Worksafe Awards last year recognised Mr Mawby, RVL and Delta-V Experts with the Best Design for Workplace Safety award.
“This project is a good example of what makes Victoria great and demonstrates why this state so often leads the nation in racing and many other aspects of industrial innovation,” Mr Hulls said.
“MawSafe rails are plastic, as opposed to aluminium, and are lighter than previous running rails making the installation a simpler, safer and faster process.”
The horizontal plastic rail elevates, springs and bends on contact with upright supports that rotate up and away from heavy impact, significantly reducing the safety risk to both rider and horse.
Mr Hulls said the Brumby Labor Government was committed to supporting the state’s regional and rural clubs, such as the Bendigo Jockey Club.
Racing Victoria Limited chief strategy officer Paul Bittar said RVL’s number one priority was the safety and wellbeing of industry participants.
“The introduction of the MawSafe plastic running rail is a landmark initiative and one that will dramatically improve the safety of racing at Bendigo for both jockeys and horses,” Mr Bittar said.

Kyneton racecourse gets Mawsafe Rails

Global Barrier Systems, Mawsafe•on March 1st, 2010•No Comments

Kyneton racecourse will receive revolutionary new running rails to improve racetrack safety, Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Rob Hulls said today as he officially opened a $150,000 upgrade of the sand jog track.
Mr Hulls said the two projects recognised the importance of Kyneton NMIT Park to the local racing industry and reaffirmed the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment to country racing and racetrack safety.
Kyneton is one of 25 regional and rural racing clubs to share in $2.3 million in funding for the new rails that will add to Victoria’s reputation as running one of the best racing industries in the world.
Mr Hulls said Kyneton would receive $70,000 to install 1820 metres of plastic running rails, which were invented by Mordialloc plumber Dan Mawby and featured on the ABC program The New Inventors last year.
“Kyneton is the second club to receive funding for the new plastic running rails that will ensure the highest standard of safety for race participants anywhere in Australia,” Mr Hulls said.
“The safety of jockeys and horses is paramount to a healthy racing industry and the Mawsafe rails reduce the risk to both rider and horse significantly with the horizontal plastic rail elevating, springing and bending on contact.”
Mr Hulls said the $150,000 jog track at Kyneton racecourse had been realigned to improve drainage and a new sand surface installed, providing a softer surface for training horses than turf.
“Kyneton produces about 1100 starters in races each year, which is why the Brumby Labor Government has funded both of these projects in conjunction with Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) and Country Racing Victoria (CRV),” Mr Hulls said.