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Pinjarra Race Club’s new ‘Pinjarra Scarpside’ course hosts its first race meeting on Pinjarra Cup Day this Sunday 11 April.
Pinjarra Race Club's new 'Pinjarra Scarpside' course hosts its first race meeting on Pinjarra Cup Day this Sunday 11 April.
Pinjarra Scarpside is the name selected for the new long course making use of the recently constructed second home turn, while the shorter course using the original home turn will continue to be known as 'Pinjarra Park'.
The length of the Scarpside home straight is 430 metres, making it the longest in WA and one of the lengthiest in Australia. The Scarpside course will introduce an 1800m starting position at Pinjarra for the first time, providing a straight run of approximately 800m from the top of the back straight into the first turn
Pinjarra Race Club Chief Executive Officer Michael Lodding said the additional sweeping home turn bend into a longer straight makes Pinjarra Race Club arguably the most unique racecourse in Australia.
"It has been quite a process with countless project meetings and several Government regulatory approvals necessary to get to this point, however, it's all been worthwhile to future proof the industry and allows the club to hold in excess of 30 meetings per season, supporting the winter racing strategy and upcoming Bunbury Turf Club redevelopment," Michael said.
"With the grass being planted in January 2020 it's been a fantastic effort to get the track in a position to be cleared by senior jockeys and Stewards in time for racing on Pinjarra Cup Day, with the plan going forward to alternate between the Pinjarra Scarpside and Pinjarra Park tracks."
"On what should be a watershed day for the Pinjarra Race Club, given we were closed to the public for the 2020 Pinjarra Cup and the recent 2021 Magic Millions Day, we are expecting over 5000 patrons on course, weather permitting, plus a "Grand Opening" ceremony for the new Pinjarra Scarpside Course is scheduled."
"This project has been near 20 years in the making with then Pinjarra Race Club Chairman Keith Jeffreys and his Committee commissioning David Allen to design a second bend per se."
Pinjarra Race Club also publicly thanked Alcoa Pinjarra for leasing the land required to allow the construction of the Scarpside track, which they expect will assist in creating additional employment in the Peel Districts.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Manager Commercial Racing and Planning David Hunter said RWWA is pleased the project has been completed on time, under budget, and ready for Pinjarra Cup Day.
"The new turn was formally approved by RWWA Stewards on 30 March following two set of trials and jump outs," David said.
"The new turn will allow an increase in race meeting capacity at the venue as required, such as during the Bunbury Turf Club re-development over the next 18 months."
"Pinjarra Racecourse is widely renowned as one of the best wet weather racing surfaces in Australia and the introduction of the Scarpside course will only further enhance the reputation of this strategically important venue for the WA thoroughbred racing industry."
"Race meetings will be scheduled in their entirety on either the 'Pinjarra Park' or the 'Pinjarra Scarpside' course, and not both used at the same meeting. Straight 1000m races will continue to be scheduled at all race meetings."
The total cost of the project was $2.3 million.
