By David Nagel
Trainers at the Pakenham Racing Club (PRC) will receive a much-welcomed Christmas gift this year.
Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines visited the track on Wednesday to announce a key addition to the training facility that is expected to be completed in December 2023.
The State Government is supporting the construction of a new training track at the PRC to improve training conditions.
Minister Carbines announced that $283,000 from the Labor Government’s Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) would be dedicated to building the new track.
The Pakenham Racing Club is investing almost $85,000, with Racing Victoria contributing more than $198,000 to the $560,000 project.
The new 600-metre stand-alone training track will be six metres wide and will provide trainers the opportunity to start light training activity, for slow work and trotting, and to take workload off other training tracks at the club.
The project will help meet the increased demand for training facilities at Pakenham following the relocation of trainers and horses from Caulfield.
Since December 2014, the Labor Government has invested more than $9.6 million through the VRIF to support racing infrastructure projects and thoroughbred racing events at the Pakenham Racecourse.
The thoroughbred racing industry in outer Melbourne generates more than $863 million for the Victorian economy and supports over 7,000 jobs locally.
Minister Carbines acknowledged that the PRC was a real workhorse for the industry.
“Pakenham Racing Club is a valuable racing venue for the south-east — that’s why we are backing in these works to ensure the course continues to have world class facilities for the growing number of trainers and horses,” he said.
Member for Pakenham Emma Vulin agreed it was a wise investment.
“We’re investing in the Pakenham Racing Club to ensure it continues to be a destination of choice for trainers, and bringing more local jobs to our community.”
PRC Chief Executive Officer Blair Odgers said the support of the State Government was greatly appreciated by the racing club and trainers.
“The new training trot track is a much-needed facility, and we thank the Victorian Government for continuing to support the club and the growth of the racing industry in Pakenham,” Mr Odgers said.
A new training tower for the trainers will also be built as part of the project.
Trainer Katherine Coleman, who now trains in partnership with champion-trainer Peter Moody, said the addition of the trotting track and tower would make training at Pakenham easier.
“The trotting track, and the location of it, is going to be really vital, especially having it in conjunction with the new training tower,” Coleman said.
“It just makes it so much easier for trainers to be getting a good view of their horses, and how they’re warming up and recovering from their work.
“It will also make it easier to communicate with their trackwork riders as well.”
Coleman said the training tower was a great enhancement.
“At the moment we all watch the trackwork from the grandstand, which has been our temporary trainers tower as such, but now it will be nice to have a central spot where everyone can get together and watch the horses train,” she said.
“It might be a little bit warmer in winter than standing in the grandstand.”
Coleman was thrilled with the development of the facility over the last year.
“We’ve had amazing development here over the last 12 months,” she explained.
“We’ve got the rise track, that’s the straight track out the back, as well as a Wetlands track, which is just a really nice variation.
“The more different type of training methods that you can provide the horses with, helps keep them fresh and interested.
“We’ve got the synthetic, and two sand tracks, and the equestrian arena as well…so the variation in training options at Pakenham has really flourished over the last year.
“It gets us to a really good spot, we’ve got everything that we need and anything we add on throughout the years, as the place continues to develop, is going to be a bonus.”
With the Spring carnival just around the corner, Colemam said the Moody/Coleman team was starting to hit its straps.
“The team is coming together nicely for the Spring, and having the Group-2 race at Caulfield last week gives you the feeling in the air that winter is over and we’re coming to the exciting times now,” she said.
“Our team is shaping up well; I Wish I Win is our flagbearer, he’s looking super, he kicks off in the Memsie Stakes in a couple of weeks’ time and we’re really excited to get him back to the races.”
The new partnership with Moody hasn’t changed much for Coleman, who is just thrilled to be in the training ranks.
“Nothing has actually changed in our day-to-day operations, we work together like we have for the last three years, but it’s a fantastic opportunity and I’m grateful for it and thrilled to be starting off my career as a trainer at Pakenham.”
The Group-1 Memsie Stakes will be run over 1400-metres at Caulfield on Saturday 2 September.
