The installation of the $4.5million Pro-Ride training surface has been the latest in a line of upgrades to facilities at Warwick Farm Racecourse; New South Wales’ largest training precinct which hosts 48 trainers and up to 700 horses in work.
Rick Worthington, President of the Warwick Farm Trainers Association, has described the new track as “better than we could have imagined”, when commenting on behalf of his fellow trainers.
“The track will improve as it settles in over the next few weeks and even maybe into next month, however, commenting on it as it is today. A word comes to mind … sensational,” Worthington stated.
ATC’s CEO, Darren Pearce, said the Club had undergone a stringent selection process with stakeholders before we arrived at Pro-Ride as the most suitable surface.
“In addition to the surface we installed state of the art drainage layers to ensure the track would stand up to training in the most testing weather,” Mr Pearce said. “The track is in its infancy and it needs to prove itself across the year and through all weather conditions but we are thankful it is off to a good start due to the hard work of the ATC Tracks Team and our contractors.”
With the recent installation of the new training track at Newcastle, Pro-Ride Racing now has 6 training tracks in NSW and 26 installations in Australia and overseas.
Ian Pearse, Managing Director of Pro-Ride Racing, said he was delighted to be partnering with the ATC in the development of Warwick Farm as a major training centre.
“The installation of the new Pro-Ride training track will provide a consistent training surface, certainty in all weather conditions and be a major benefit to NSW racing,” Mr Pearse said.
The Pro-Ride track installation at Warwick Farm is part of the Club’s wide-sweeping action to improve facilities for the racing industry. With the Royal Randwick redevelopment nearing the halfway mark to completion, the Club is also currently conducting a feasibility study into improvements to equine and customer facilities at Rosehill Gardens while continuing to deliver on its Warwick Farm masterplan.
