Caption: Racing will officially begin at the new Taree circuit in either late August or early September.

By GRNSW’S SIMON ORCHARD

AFTER what has been a marathon process, the finish line is in sight for the much-publicised and highly anticipated Taree ‘super track’.

It’s fair to say the multimillion-dollar upgrade, which began in October last year, has had its fair share of setbacks.

But with racing set to finally resume on the NSW Mid-North Coast at the start of spring, it’s music to the ears of Mid-North Coast Greyhound Racing Club Manager, Peter Cassar.

“The facility looks amazing and it’s going to be ridiculous when it opens. The usage rate of the place will go through the roof and trialling and racing will be heavily supported as I know local participants are itching to get in there,” an excited Cassar said.

“There’s been limited access for the public but the project manager has afforded us some great opportunities to come and inspect the place and we love having a look around whenever the chance present itself.”

Cassar has been blown away by the reception the new track is receiving in the region as he eagerly awaits a new primetime Sky Racing slot for the club as well.

“The town and surrounding areas are all buzzing and patrons around town have been talking about it for months, ” Cassar said. “The excitement of a new track is spreading and it will give people something interesting and enjoyable to do during the week.

“We will also get access to that Wednesday afternoon/night timeslot on Sky Racing which is a new thing as well. Our Wednesday day slot was always pretty successful, but now we get a premium opportunity and a lot more access to racing fans.

“We used to get two or three races on Sky 1 a year and most of the program was on Sky 2. That will all change once we’re up and going here.”

The Harrington local was spruiking the many new and improved aspects of the state-of-the-art facility as well.

“The implementation of the safe chase lure system looks like a great move for everybody,” Cassar said.

“The first loads of sand have been delivered and spread out and it’s not just the track that has had a facelift.

“The new tower facility is a stack of prefabricated shipping containers that were assembled on site. The old kennel block had four kennels for swabbing, but we’ve added another eight swabbing bays to the side of it.

“There’s a new maintenance shed and new access roads to the 300m start and boxes. We never used to have car access to that 300m start, so this is a real game changer.

“I’m excited by what we’re going to achieve here.”

The Mid-North Coast of NSW has produced many wonderful owners, trainers and breeders over the years, with the likes of Kevin Johnson (of the Sannette line fame) and Ian Rose (who bred Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase placegetter Sky Wave and current star Foreign Capital among many others) calling the region home.

Longtime participant Sharon Grey, who lives 20 minutes outside Taree at Killabakh, cannot wait to recommence racing at the track her and husband Tony have called home since 2011.

“We’ve had dogs for a long time but this is one of the best things I’ve seen happen in this industry. It’s really needed up here because there’s a lot of good dog people around,” Grey said.

“It’ll take us all off the freeway so much as well. I’m doing three, sometimes four, trips a week  to Newcastle, Maitland, Wenty Park and Grafton. We’d be on the road more than 25 hours a week, but soon, I’ll be able to drive 20 minutes to trial and race instead.

“I was actually trialling down at The Gardens the other week and standing next to Dan Stone who’s from up this way as well and we both said, ‘We won’t be doing much longer’, with a cheeky grin to one another.”

The 60-year-old mentor overjoyed at the prospect of Taree becoming the epicentre of greyhound activity on the Mid-North Coast.

“Locals can’t wait for Taree to get up and going, but all the Northern Rivers trainers will come down too because they lost Lismore in the floods and the Casino track only suits certain dogs,” she said.

“I know they’re excited by the opportunity to race at a club that now looks like a proper TAB track as well. It’s no longer a bush track.

“The place has been modernised; it’s more open; the landscaping is great; it’s just a more welcoming environment. I’ve been up here for 13 years and I’d hear people around the place say they didn’t know there was a dog track in town.

“Now everyone knows this place is about to get going and we can’t wait.”

Grey’s best-known chaser was the distance star Ada Mary who was a multiple Group 3 winner and ran second in the 2015 Group 2 Topgun Stayers.

It is anticipated racing at the new Taree circuit will officially begin in either late August or early September.