October
AugustCome in, Kilmore
Victoria needs a third synthetic racecourse to service the north.
The Racing.com Park synthetic track is a godsend for the east, as is Geelong synthetic for the west.
Bendigo would be the only track big enough for an inner synthetic racetrack, if they ditched the jumps course, but please don’t.
All the others northern tracks are too small, so to go synthetic a club would have to take the all-or-nothing gamble of ditching turf for a synthetic course proper.
This idea would sound ludicrous to Seymour Turf Club, which has just spent heaps on new turf, but maybe not for near neighbour Kilmore?
To go from a few meetings a year to dozens may appeal to that club.
Kyneton would be my close second pick, then Benalla, with Tatura a bit farther away but doable.
While I’m on synthetics, Pakenham is big for a synthetic racetrack and has a long, uphill straight, so its 2500m races suit stayers.
Geelong is tighter and flat, so its 2200m races aren’t true staying tests. So, Geelong Racing Club, how about some 2800m or 3000m races?
There are many Western Fistrict jumpers who’d love a suitable flat race in between jumping assignments.
Also on synthetics and jumpers, I’d love to see Pakenham run a jumps trial or two on their synthetic, just to see what the jockeys and trainers thought of it.
Flemington (Vic)