Racing club on track with upgrades

ON COURSE: Geelong Racing Club chief Daniel Salter, board member Jade Augustine, South Barwon MP Andrew Katos and Liberal candidate Paula Kontelj at the racecourse.

By EMILY IANNELLO

 

A minor revamp will spruce up Geelong’s Racecourse in time for the city’s premier race this year.
Member for South Barwon Andrew Katos announced a new owners and trainers bar, improved perimeter fencing and an upgraded ambulance track would be in place for the Geelong Cup on 22 October.
“These upgrades, with joint funding between the Coalition Government and the racing industry, will see more than $285,000 invested in the Geelong Racecourse,” he said.
“The money is coming from unclaimed dividends. It’s come from racing, so let’s put it back into racing.”
Club board member Jade Augustine called the upgrades “wonderful”.
“The location of the owners and trainers bar is quite central, so it will look a lot better to the general public.
“In the past the room was quite crowded, so now there’ll potentially be more people coming to Geelong to race.”
Liberal candidate for Geelong Paula Kontelj hoped the works would lift the reputation of the racecourse among visiting owners of international horses.
“The Geelong Cup is the heart of the social scene in Geelong. The reputation is growing and these changes will help to bring this standard up.”