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Lingering issues with the turf and ongoing uncertainty for participants has prompted Racing Victoria, Country Racing Victoria, and the Seymour Racing Club to announce a complete reconstruction of the much-maligned country track.
Seymour has encountered regular issues around stability and consistency of year-round performance following a $6 million redevelopment in 2015-16, drawing criticism and frustration from trainers and jockeys.
Another renovation was undertaken in early 2020 to re-introduce warm climate Kikuyu grass which was expected to consolidate across a full summer growing period.
Despite making progress over spring, the track has not yet reached an acceptable standard for racing and both RV and the club have determined that a complete reconstruction is needed to provide the industry with greater certainty around the track.
Racing Victoria Chief Executive Giles Thompson apologized to participants for the troubles encountered with the track in the last five years.
The reconstructed track will be built on a more traditional loam-based profile than the predominantly sand-based profile which was installed in 2015-16 to enhance drainage among other benefits.
Respected turf consultant Peter Anderson from SportsTurf and Sandown's Racecourse Manager Tim Bailey has been engaged to advise on and oversee the implementation of the project to reconstruct the track.
The reconstruction will commence in early 2021 with racing not expected to resume before the spring of 2022.
The industry has made an application for funding support for the project through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
Seymour’s remaining eight meetings in the 2020-21 season will be transferred to other venues, while no meetings will be programmed at the track in the 2021-22 season.