Seymour Race in July 2020 (Image: Race Photos)
Persistent grass unrest and uncertainty led Racing Victoria, Country Racing Victoria and Seymour Racing Club to announce a complete reconstruction of the country’s much-defamed track.
Seymour has encountered stability and consistency issues throughout the year following a $6 million remodeling in 2015-16, prompting complaints and frustration of running shoes and riders.
Another renovation was undertaken in early 2020 to reintroduce the warm-weather kikuyu herb, which was expected to consolidate the summer expansion period.
Despite the progress made in the spring, the track has not yet reached an appropriate point for the race and the RV and the club has made the decision that a complete reconstruction is needed to provide the industry with greater certainty around the track.
Racing Victoria general manager Giles Thompson apologized to participants for being on the track for more than five years.
“Like all local and industry players, we are incredibly disappointed and frustrated that Seymour Track has not succeeded in its potential,” Thompson said.
“Clearly, the intention of its reconstruction in 2015-16 was to provide a first-class area of education and career for the Northeast and even the state of Victoria.
This has not been the case and, as progress has been slow, the time has come to take more invasive steps to address the stability and consistency disorders of the year’s functionality.
“In making this announcement, I would like the industry, and in particular the participants founded in Seymour and the local Seymour community, for the fact that we were unsuccessful the first time.
“We have many wonderful tracks in Victoria and Seymour deserves to be a component for many years to come. This has been our ambition and we will use the classes of recent years to make this a reality. “
The rebuilt track will be built on a more classic slime profile than the basically sand-based profile that was installed in 2015-2016 for drainage, among other benefits.
SportsTurf’s respected lawn consultant Peter Anderson and Sandown Racecourse Director Tim Bailey have advised and supervised the implementation of the track reconstruction project.
Reconstruction will begin in early 2021 and races are expected to resume until spring 2022.
The industry implemented the investment for the allocation of the Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
Seymour’s remaining 8 meetings in the 2020-2021 season will be transferred to other venues, while no meetings will be scheduled on the track for the 2021-2022 season.