By Paul Dolan - Kilcoy Race Club committee member
In recent years, the Kilcoy Race Club has upgraded its facilities and course proper to an extent which is the envy of many observers.
The racetrack – which sits on Somerset Regional Council land – has seen generous support for various improvements from both Council and the State Government, as well as Racing Queensland.
From the next race meeting which is a TAB card on Friday, October 29, races over 1200 metres will start in a newly constructed chute.
Previously, races over that distance provided a run of a mere 100 metres onto a turn.
The council purchased land adjacent to that 1200-metre start and this has enabled the construction of a new chute which will provide a straight run of 370 metres to the first turn.
1060 metres races will be discontinued, replaced by an 1100-metre start which will have a straight run of 270 metres.
Races over 2400 metres can also start in the new chute.
To say that Kilcoy Race Club chairman of nine years Con Searle is excited about this new era is an understatement.
“The chute might sound like a pretty simple construction but there’s been a lot involved,” Searle said.
“The council provided the land and the extensive filling that was required.
“RQ and the club has funded the new running rails, turf and irrigation.
“What it means is that trainers won’t go into a panic when their horse draws wide because the new start allows for plenty of galloping to sort out your position. “
As well as the new 1200-metre starting point, middle distance races will be extended from 1900 metres to 2076 metres.
“We recently had the track surveyed and the circumference is 1276 metres,” Searle said.
“By extending the 1900-metre start to the end of the 800-metre chute, with a race distance of 2076 metres, there’s a 400-metres straight run from that start.
“We believe the improved starting points will attract more metropolitan trainers to race here, and with increased field sizes and quality of horses, up goes your betting turnover.
“We haven’t raced since August 8, enabling track manager Mark Williams and his staff to perform a total rejuvenation of the course proper surface.
“We are fortunate that the committee and staff are a happy, positive team that work well together as a team effort.”
The lush and green kikuyu surface at Kilcoy is the result of nutrient-rich recycled water from the Council’s nearby wastewater treatment plant.
The volume of recycled water supplied to the site which includes the Showgrounds is around 330,000 litres per day.
The new 1200-metre chute will be tested by jumpouts on Tuesday, October 14.
Experienced jockeys will give their assessment after those gallops.
From October 29, Kilcoy has a busy schedule with race meetings of the thoroughbred and harness codes through spring and summer.
“I would like to see Kilcoy with lights for night racing, and if that happened we could conduct night harness racing,” Searle said.