Central Park is ready to race again – looking way better than at any time in its 28 year history – writes Floyd Amphlett.
The Kent venue completed work on their £500K renovation system in the latter part of this week. The results, as can be seen in the photo, are absolutely stunning.
Greyhound Operations Director, Rachel Corden said, ‘The re-lay works have gone well and in accordance with our schedule. We have had Dr Christian Spring, Principal Scientist for STRI, supervise the works and they have been carried out in accordance with best known practice for laying a greyhound track. Mark Peacock, GBGB Track Liaison officer has also been to site at all key stages of the works. The installation team have worked incredibly hard over the last three weeks and we are very grateful to both Christian & Mark for their expertise, advice and support throughout the project.
“We will be running a trial session tomorrow afternoon and our trainers will have the opportunity to walk the new track ahead of that and ask any questions.
“The track, traps and winning line positions have not moved, but the track and distances have been properly surveyed as part of the works. This has revealed that the distances registered by previous operators were inaccurate. Moving forward the greyhounds will be running the same physical distances they were, pre the works, but the actual metered distances over which they will be running will now be correctly registered with GBGB.
“The surveyed distances are now as follows:
461m (was previously registered as 450m);
491m (was previously registered as 480m);
277m (was previously registered as 265m); and
664m and 731m (which were previously registered as 642m and 708m respectively).
Marathon distances of 915m and 946m will also be registered as will a 209m distance.
“We look forward to welcoming owners, trainers and racegoers back to Central Park on our first race meeting back this Sunday, with the first race scheduled for 14:04.”
