Funds boost safety of racetracks in South

SAFETY at Southern racetracks has been boosted by funding from central government.

Racing Minister Winston Peters has given more than $600,000 in grants from the Racing Safety Development Fund to 25 projects to improve safety at race courses around the country.

The grants are made available from the development fund which provides $1 million annually for racecourse safety in two funding rounds.

This year’s first funding round has supported a range of infrastructure projects including track maintenance equipment, irrigation system installation, replacement running rails and track lighting upgrades.

The Ascot Park consortium in Invercargill was granted $24,693 for infrastructure at the track.

Forbury Park was allocated $7786 for lighting.

Lighting would be improved in the stabling area and the prerace area to help trainers and stewards. The work has started and should be finished by Christmas.

The Otago Racing Club was granted a total of $19,572 for track drainage and a horse float entry gate.

Maintenance was needed on a section of the track and the gate was made safer.

It is weighted and opens when a horse float moved nearby.

The next funding round opens for applications on February 14 and closes on March 31 next year.