Despite the deluge that hit areas of Seymour early last week, Seymour Racing Club avoided major damage to its tracks and facilities, reopening after a week of repairs.
With more than 100 millimetres of rain at Seymour by midday on January 8, the club’s tracks flooded including a significant amount of water on its main course.
Efforts from the club’s maintenance crew meant the two sand tracks and course proper were open by Wednesday morning, while the synthetic track also reopened before the end of the week.
Seymour Racing Club chief executive Chris Martin said the quick turnaround was a testament to the efforts of the track staff.
“Yes, we were inundated, and all the tracks were flooded, but when I arrived yesterday most of the water had disappeared,” he said.
“It was amazing, as soon as that heavy rain stopped, it did get an opportunity to run away but obviously the damage had been done in terms of the training tracks.
“Our two sand tracks and our course proper were actually opened this morning, so [staff have] worked tirelessly to get those up and running so our trainers have got somewhere to work their horses.”
Mr Martin said although the club experienced different circumstances in last week’s weather event, staff benefitted from knowledge gained following the October 2022 floods.
“In terms of the materials and so forth that we required, there was quick action in getting some crushed rock and some of the products that are required … so I think they had a little of that knowledge tucked away which they could act on quite quickly,” he said.
“The weather has also helped us too because yesterday was quite humid and warm, so it’s all drying.”
Mr Martin also said the event had come at a relatively good time, as planned renovations to the main track was set to begin in January had suspended racing at the club for several months.
The most recent meeting took place on January 3, with the next race meeting planned for April 19 following trials on March 13.
“There’s planned renovations that we’re actually prepping for now, they’re mowing the course proper down really low, and it will be scarified next week,” he said.
“That was all planned to happen already, so in terms of racing it’s not going to impact us at all.”
