| This is what I wrote in 2018 to `Minimum Standards' where GRNSW asked us to comment. I stumbled upon it whilst in the process of deleting old emails. At the time, I could have added more and even tinkered with it, but there was a due date that was fast approaching. To comment any further now, would be a waste of time. I hope you get a cuppa, sit down and have a good read, and feel free to comment. Like I wrote just before, I could have written more and the exercise wasn't to discredit any track or club, but to aid in the maintenance work. We have / had $31 million to spend on tracks. Unfortunately, some tracks won't be around for a make-over. P.S. Taree will go loam. Minimum Standard for Race Tracks Now that the GRNSW owned track, The Gardens and the GBOTA affiliated tracks, Gosford, Wenty Park and Gunnedah have secured funding for works to be carried out, perhaps GRNSW can start attending to other tracks. I have quickly looked at the minimum standards and find that it is incomplete. I dont understand why you have separated the standards for TAB and non-TAB tracks as some dogs will eventually race on both surfaces and at those different tracks. The minimum standard of a race track shouldnt be about prize money and status of track, but about the welfare of the dog. However, track surface, design of track and first bends at tracks are different and should be addressed. Arguably, a grass surface is the better surface to race on. We once had all grass tracks, but we copied the Victorian Model because we didnt want to lose racing dates to heavy rain. Well, NSW is usually a very dry state, especially in the western, north-western and south-western parts of NSW. It depends on whether there is enough sunlight to dry out the rain on a grass track, geographical location and how often a club races on it that determines if a minimum standard can be maintained from week to week or month to month. A loam track is the same, but more maintenance is required. If Wauchope were to receive twenty-six (26) TAB race meetings per year it wont need to be converted to loam because it would have enough time to recover between race meetings. The other two tracks either side of it, namely Taree and Kempsey, could race alternate weeks (which is what they pretty much do now), as far as racing every three weeks. They too wouldnt need to be converted to loam. They would need to be kept to the minimum standard for grass tracks. It takes a lot of water to maintain a sand/loam track and they are not `all weather tracks. They do have wash-out meetings due to heavy rain. Most tracks have their issues, but I find that Wauchope is generally well maintained and is usually safe because of its one turn design with a reasonable radius on its turns. It really is a `stand-out on the mid-north coast. Cessnock is arguably the best track in Australia because of its radius and big track design. The other two tracks are good, but Taree has its `bend start over the 392m journey and they come `down from the boxes and there is interference from the start. Kempsey doesnt have that problem as there is plenty of time for dogs to get to the turn from the 350m boxes, that is from the back straight and the boxes are `flat with no `fall onto the track. Armidale has a few problems. The first turn is too sharp and most dogs `run off the track. There is a bend start for the 440m race with some interference, and the 520m boxes are actually on the track. I pity wide runners looking at the lure coming down the home straight because one day a dog is going to hit the 520m boxes. An innocent bystander mentioned the same thing to me without even being prompted. Tamworth track design is too tight. Even though it is a one turn track, the radius for the turn is too small. GRNSW should encourage Tamworth GRC to re-locate as quickly as possible and build a track similar to Cessnock or Wauchope (both one turn tracks) and incorporate a straight track as well. Im told Tamworth Council is very much interested in the concept and is willing to offer some land to construct a new track. Gunnedah has its problems with the 440m boxes on the bend, with dogs coming down and onto the track from the boxes. The other three distances are good. Coonabarabran and Coonamble appear fine, but the latter has had problems. Both have bend starts for one of the distances with some interference but nowhere as bad as Taree and Gunnedah. I havent been to Moree, but it seems okay and looks well maintained. Dubbo is good as is Mudgee. There is a concern with Bathurst because of the bend start. Lismore has an issue with its 420m bend start, but Casino and Grafton seem fine as well. I know that a million dollars has been given to Grafton to widen the track. I wont comment on The Gardens and Gosford, but Maitland has a problem with dogs that race over the 400m. The first turn is a concern as the dogs move to their left and often squash at the first turn. The same with races over the 565m distance. They squash early and that interference puts half the field out of the race. Muswellbrooks first turn for the 560m race needs better camber and they too have a 429m bend start where there is interference. I used to race dogs south / south-west of Sydney. Potts Park has always been a trial track. Work has been done to it, but I cannot comment any further, except that it is a tight track. The only one down south that concerns me still is the 365m start at Nowra. Its a bend start and interference takes out half the field in the first twenty to forty metres. Cheers, Mark
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