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.â€
Horse and rider safety has been enhanced at Betfair Park (Sandown) with the installation of the revolutionary Mawsafe plastic running rail at Victoria’s most active metropolitan racetrack.
Its debut at Wednesday’s Betfair Park (Sandown) meeting comes four days after the Mawsafe rail system was credited with preventing serious injuries to riders and horses in a major fall at Flemington.
Read More
Jockey James Winks and leading apprentice Jason Maskiell escaped serious injury in a fall which marred the running of the Veolia Environmental Services Handicap at Flemington on Saturday May 8th 2010.
Winks’ mount The Fugitive, travelling three wide, appeared to get onto the heels of the favourite Undeniably at the point of the home turn and dipped badly, dislodging the jockey and throwing him over the running rail in the 1410m event.
The incident caused a chain reaction of interference and was a great advertisement for the safety elements of the plastic running rail. Read More
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
12 February 2010,
Bendigo Weekly
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).â€
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.â€
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 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.â€
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.
Herald Sun 11 February 2010
Plastic running rails costing $2.3 million will be installed at 25 regional tracks in Victoria over the next year. “These plastic running rails were developed here in Victoria, they are being built in Victoria and soon about 60,000 metres of them will be installed at racetracks across the state,” Racing Minister Rob Hulls said.
“The safety of jockeys and horses is paramount to healthy racing industry.”
The rail was developed by Mordialloc plumber Dan Mawby, who was awarded the Best Design for Workplace Safety along with Racing Victoria and engineer Delta-V Experts, at the 2009 Victorian Worksafe Awards.
Michael Manley
Wednesday 10th February 2010
Victorian Minister for Racing Rob Hulls has officially launched the manufacture and production of the new Mawsafe horse racing rail at the Victorian office of Global Barrier Systems. Local manufacturing has commenced in Victoria in response to the high demand for this innovating award winning system.
Manager Michael Villante, jockey Craig Williams and the Minister for Racing Rob Hulls and inventor Dan Mawby discussing the safety features of Mawsafe rail system
The Victorian Government, through Racing Victoria are confident that the new ultra safe PVC railing will substantially reduce the risk to jockeys and horses at Victoria’s two major racing tracks. The new safety features include a support leg that swings up and out of the way if contacted by a falling jockey or horse and a smooth pliable rail that lifts up and resists the horse should it lean against it during the race. It acts against the horse’s natural instinct to jump the rail.
Mr Hulls said the announcement would support at least 30 local jobs.
“These plastic running rails were developed here in Victoria, they are being built in Victoria and soon about 60,000 metres of them will be installed at racetracks across the state,†he said.
“The safety of jockeys and horses is paramount to a healthy racing industry and, once installed, these new plastic rails will ensure the greatest standard of safety for race participants anywhere in Australia.â€
“Mr Mawby’s idea has not only helped create safer racetracks in Victoria, but helped provide valuable work for industrial employees and local companies,†Mr Hulls said.
Racing Victoria Limited chief executive Rob Hines said the invention of the plastic running rail had revolutionised the safety of both jockeys and horses.
“The safety and well-being of our industry participants and horses is RVL’s number one priority and the introduction of plastic running rails is a landmark initiative,†Mr Hines said.
“I would like to commend Dan Mawby for his outstanding foresight and design of the plastic running rail and look forward to this product being rolled out at racetracks across the state”.
About ten years ago Dan got a plumbing job working on the Cranbourne racecourse and as soon as he drove onto the track and saw the steel posts he knew there had to be a better system.
He wasn’t even into horseracing.
As a plumber he’d worked with PVC pipe for years. He knew its strengths and weaknesses. Flexibility, strength and lightness were among them.
There had been a call for new designs for rails in the wake of some serious accidents on Victorian racetracks. Dan had also seen some footage of a leading jockey who had a very close call in a rail incident. So Dan began working on a safer design and after some comparative testing, his system was chosen to be trialled by Racing Victoria.
