3 minute read

The year 2020 has not been kind to the Moonee Valley Racing Club. 

Like a lot of businesses it has been hit financially by the COVID-19 pandemic while earlier in the year it lost race meetings during Melbourne's summer heat-wave. 

And with spring approaching the clubs last meeting was called off after five races when heavy rain drenched the track making it unsafe. 

That was August 22, but track manager at The Valley, Marty Synan, has no doubts the track can bounce back ahead of Saturday's meeting. 

Synan said the track was battered taking staff three days to rake back and repair, but Saturday's meeting will be run in the true position after the rail was out five metres for last week's meeting. 

Prior to last week's meeting Synan said the track received six millimetres of rain on Friday night and Saturday morning then a further 14.5 millimetres after the meeting commenced. 

"It wouldn't drain. It's the first time I've ever seen it that bad and I don't know why," Synan said. 

"We've aerated the whole track and it's drying out, but they're saying we're going to get a bit of rain on Wednesday. 

"I'm a bit concerned about that as the track is still reasonably wet, they're saying three-to-five mils, and if we get the five mils, that's the worst case scenario. 

"I've got a product called "Push Through" which helps push the water through the profile, so I will put that out next week and that will help if we do get any rain as instead of sitting on top, it will go through and hopefully it will come back to slow to good range. 

"This track is 25 years old and doesn't drain like it used to but we'll keep doing what we're doing and maintain it the best we can. 

"It was disappointing for the club as we had also lost meetings with the heat, so to lose one because of the rain, that was disappointing." 

The Valley is set to undergo a rebuild in 2024 with the shape of the track changed as part of the Moonee Valley precinct that will incorporate unit complexes and a new grandstand.