Training venue sets the pace

By David Nagel
WHILE all the harness racing excitement will be on track at Cranbourne this Saturday night it’s also off track that the club is setting a hot pace.
Cranbourne is set to become Victoria’s leading harness training venue with the construction of a communal stabling complex and two associated training tracks.
Racing Minister Denis Napthine last week announced $918,307 in state funding for a vastly enhanced Cranbourne Harness Racing Training Centre stabling complex.
“This state-of-the-art 48-barn stabling complex will be a communal facility that will allow professional and hobby trainers to work side by side and stable their horses without incurring the expense of buying and developing their own stables,” Dr Napthine said.
“This project is the first of its kind in Victoria, and will allow trainers to walk their horses to the racetrack for track work without the expensive transportation costs. It will also help to retain and grow jobs in Cranbourne and surrounds as well as provide further direct economic benefits to the local economy.”
Since the project was first announced in September 2010, the Cranbourne Harness Racing Club identified the need for the new facility to be situated within the Cranbourne Training Complex. The six-acre site will remove the need to cross any public roads and be a much safer resource for the harness industry.
Racing club chief executive David Scott thanked the Victorian Government and Harness Racing Victoria for their funding contributions and said the new sand tracks would be a boost for trainers.
“This development will provide a means by which our club can build and maintain a viable horse population to support the continued growth of harness racing activity in the region,” Mr Scott said.
“It will also provide a much-needed entry point for new participants to our sport and we are delighted HRV and the Victorian Government have seen fit to support this undertaking at Cranbourne.”