THE Forster Tuncurry racecourse has been brought up to TAB standard after the completion of an almost $1 million refit.
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Racing NSW financed the $900,000 renovations which have included doubling the available horse tie-ups at the track, replacing the jockey, weigh-in and stewards rooms, providing a fourth steward’s tower and new toilets.
The completion of the toilet block means the club no longer has to bring in portaloos, which means savings for the club in the long term.
Tuncurry Forster Jockey Club president Garry McQuillan said with the works now completed the club has applied for a TAB meeting and is hopeful that Racing NSW will find a race meet for the club to host in the near future.
Mr McQullian said by holding a TAB meeting, it will allow the local club to host more races and for those races to attract bets from any TAB venue.
“The best thing about it is that it will allow punters to bet on a Tuncurry race without physically being at the track,” he said.
Mr McQuillan said the new facilities have attracted positive comments from jockeys and stewards as well as local businesses as being both state of the art and a credit to the club.
The Business Chamber of Forster Tuncurry as well as Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead were recently shown around the new facilities as part of a breakfast function.
Mr McQuillan said the main focus of the club since its early days of planning the racecourse more than 30 years ago, has been to make it as good as any racecourse on the Mid North Coast.
“To reach TAB standard hasn’t been easy but I think it’s a great result. We’ve lifted the whole profile of the club compared to what it was,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to going towards TAB and showing off our great town to the rest of Australia.”
Looking ahead, Mr McQuillan says he hopes to one day build a grandstand on the site that would equip Tuncurry for entertaining on a larger scale, as well as a kitchen and new bar area.
He said the ongoing success of the club lay in the dedication of its volunteers and supporters who have put in significant hours to keep the facility running.
“The volunteers; I can’t praise them enough,” he said.
“If I need anything they are the first people here. So many people have made the effort and we finally got there. I just love the people in this town they will do anything if it means bettering the place they live in.”
