The revolutionary Mawsafe plastic running rail debuts at another Victoria racetrack on Friday with the commencement of the three-day Swan Hill Cup Carnival.

The Mawsafe plastic rail greatly enhances rider and horse safety with the system last month credited with preventing serious injuries to both in a major fall at Flemington.

Seven Victorian racetracks are now conducting race meetings with Mawsafe plastic running rails in operation at Flemington, Caulfield, Betfair Park (Sandown), Ballarat, Cranbourne, Warrnambool and Swan Hill.

The Mawsafe plastic rail has also been installed at the Geelong synthetic track ahead of its upcoming resumption and at Moe ahead of their next race meeting in July. It will be erected at Bendigo, Geelong (turf), Kilmore and Kyneton over the next six weeks.

Over 60,000 metres of Mawsafe plastic rails is being manufactured and installed by
Melbourne-based firm Global Barrier Systems to replace existing steel rails on more than 25 Victorian racetracks over a 12 month period.

The initiative is part of a $2.3 million partnership between Racing Victoria Limited (RVL), Country Racing Victoria (CRV) and the Victorian Government to deliver participants the safest racing environment in Australia.

Designed by Mordialloc plumber Dan Mawby, the Mawsafe plastic running rail has already won acclaim as the Best Design for Workplace Safety at Victoria’s 2009 WorkSafe Awards.

“The Mawsafe plastic running rail is landmark technology in enhancing rider and horse safety and we are pleased to have erected it at Swan Hill in time for their popular three-day Cup Carnival,” RVL Chief Executive, Rob Hines, said.

“An extensive rollout of the Mawsafe plastic rail will continue at major country racetracks throughout the year in a bid to further enhance rider and horse safety in Victorian racing.”