The Melbourne Racing Club will fast-track remedial action on its controversial $64 million Caulfield redevelopment in a bid to meet a spring carnival deadline.
In a letter to members, MRC chairman Matt Cain confirmed work will start on renovating the male jockeys’ room in conjunction with providing a new mounting yard experience for racegoers.
“As we are dedicated to representing you and improving all aspects of our club, we appreciate your continued feedback,” Cain wrote.
Since the first stage of the MRC’s master plan for the racetrack was completed in February, Caulfield has been beset with problems and membership unrest.
An inadequate-sized jockeys’ room has been the source of continual frustration among the riders’ ranks and the MRC has been working with the Victorian Jockeys Association (VJA) to fix the issue.
Club members and the racing public have also been united in voicing their disapproval over the lack of proper mounting yard viewing access.
However, the MRC told members on Monday that changes will occur, and they will not impact the Caulfield Cup carnival.
Caulfield will stage Melbourne’s first Group 1 meeting of the spring when it hosts the Memsie Stakes on August 31.
“In consultation with the VJA we are making important alterations to the jockeys’ facilities to better meet the needs of riders on racedays,” Cain wrote.
“(We are also) developing an exciting new area allowing the horses to parade between the mounting yard and the track along the front of the members’ front lawn, bringing the horses closer to you.
“The new members’ front lawn will feature custom bars, ample seating and umbrellas, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable raceday experience.
“The upgrades will complement changes to the Rupert Clarke grandstand inclusive of the construction of a new members’ deck and lounge with views of the mounting yard.”
Caulfield’s new mounting yard precinct, linked to raceday horse stalls via an underground tunnel, includes a new trainers’ lounge, scales area, stewards’ inquiry room and winning owners’ bar, which is the first stage of a $300 million redevelopment.
It also supports an owners’ area that can accommodate up to 900 people as well as two television studios for raceday broadcasting.
A Caulfield master plan also includes demolishing the Rupert Clarke grandstand to make way for a ‘grand pavilion’, which will cost $250 million.
The Victorian government approved plans for the new facility in May, a week before MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby announced his resignation.
Blanksby, who has worked for the MRC for the past decade, will step down on August 31 after seven years at the helm.
His tenure will finish in the middle of a Sandown Racecourse Advisory Committee hearing.
The hearing is scheduled to take place from August 19 until September 16.
Under the hearing’s terms of reference, the committee will assess the MRC’s redevelopment proposal for Sandown.
The committee’s recommendations will be submitted to Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny who is expected to make a final decision in November.
Sandown sits on 112 hectares and the MRC’s redevelopment plans include the provision for 7500 new homes.
The MRC says Sandown’s future will rest on a membership vote.
