Investment in Wimmera racing
Horsham Racing Centre is set to benefit from a $160,000 infrastructure upgrade to improve facilities for harness and thoroughbred racing in the city.
Racing Minister Martin Pakula visited the centre, home to both Horsham and District Racing Club and Horsham Harness Racing Club, to announce funding for new starting gates and televisions, along with the installation of new head-on cameras.
Horsham and District Racing Club has received a new 14-stall transportable starting gate, which will be shared between the nine regional clubs that form Wimmera Racing Club.
The Horsham club will receive a six-stall mobile practice starting gate later this year, which will feature full padding on each gate and overhead pull-up bars for riders.
Mr Pakula said four new televisions were recently installed in the race-callers box, which would improve the broadcast for patrons at both thoroughbred and harness meetings.
“The infrastructure upgrades will help to ensure training and race days at Horsham run smoothly and safely,” he said.
Horsham Harness Racing Club president Justin Lane said the upgrade also included new head-on cameras, to be installed later this year, which would help harness racing stewards when deliberating on race protests and driver suspensions.
“The head-on cameras will give stewards extra confidence when making difficult decisions and enhance integrity,” he said.
The State Government has provided $80,000 for the projects through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
Racing Victoria has contributed $51,000 and Harness Racing Victoria, $5000.
Horsham and District Racing Club contributed $6600 for the new practice gates and Wimmera Racing Club is providing $15,600 for the transportable starting gates.
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said since 2014, the State Government had provided almost $400,000 to support key infrastructure projects and race-day attractions at Horsham Racing Centre.
The racing industry in the Wimmera generates more than $37-million annually for Victoria’s economy and helps sustain more than 360 full-time equivalent jobs in the region.
“We’re proud to be supporting Horsham Racing Centre because it boosts the economy and creates local jobs,” Ms Pulford said.