Harness Racing New South Wales will deliver on its promise of a world-class training facility with the grand opening of the Menangle Training Centre this Saturday morning.
Horses will move into the new facility over the next two weeks and HRNSW Chief Executive John Dumesny is welcoming all interested parties to the official opening ceremony this Saturday morning from 11am.
“The Menangle Training Centre will play an important role in the future of harness racing in the state of New South Wales and there has been great interest in the development even before construction began on the facility,” Mr Dumesny said.
“The incumbent Board of HRNSW has been behind the massive infrastructure planning development around the state.”
Adverse weather conditions in the Macarthur region over the past three months has not forced the opening of the Menangle Training Centre to be delayed however it has caused issues with parts of the project.
“Whilst not all parts of the facility are absolute, the centre is ready to accommodate horses and with the opening proceeding this Saturday it is important to recognise the work of the current HRNSW Chairman Rex Horne and his predecessor Graeme Campbell and the Board Members Rod Smith, Alex Smith, Graham Kelly and Chris Edwards.
“As a group these gentlemen have facilitated the successful development and opening of the Bathurst track, pushed the development application at Wagga across the line, have been working steadfastly on the Tamworth project and delivered on the Menangle Training Centre.”
The concept for the Menangle Training Centre was first presented to local council ten years ago and to witness the development and construction has been exciting.
“This has been a vision since it was first presented to the Campbelltown Council in 2006, the first stage has now been completed and some work will continue over the next twelve months to finish the project entirely.
“I would like to single out some people who have been working on the site putting the finishing touches on it for this weekend – Rex Horne, Alex Smith, HRNSW Chief Operating Officer Reid Sanders, Racing Manager Adam Fairley, Dan Westwood and some of the staff from Tabcorp Park Menangle have all been working under trying circumstances but have finished the task.”
A morning tea will be served on Saturday morning from 10:30am with the official opening ceremony set to begin at 11.
Greg Hayes