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MEDIA RELEASE FROM GOSFORD RACE CLUB

Following the abandonment of Thursday’s race meeting at Gosford after Race 2 due to a horse slipping past the post, a full review of the track has been undertaken.

A similar incident occurred at the meeting held on 27 March, albeit in a different section of the track, raising concern among stakeholders and within the broader racing industry.

New tracks can present management challenges due to the evolving profile of the sub-turf layers. In this case, it is believed that a hard ‘crust’ layer has developed at the top of the profile, preventing horses from gaining adequate traction in certain areas.

After the March meeting, extensive remediation work was carried out, including Verti Draining - using 100mm steel tines to aerate the surface - and slicing, which involves rotary blades cutting through the surface to further break up layers.

A set of jump-outs monitored by Racing NSW Stewards followed this process, with no incidents observed. The track was subsequently cleared to race on 10 April. In light of the most recent incident, further remediation work is now underway.

This morning, industry-leading track and soil experts conducted an on-site inspection and confirmed the presence of a crust layer that requires decompression.

The proposed remediation plan includes the application of a 5mm topdressing of drainage sand, followed by the use of a soil aggravator - a machine designed to penetrate the track to a depth of up to 100mm and vibrate the soil profile.

This minimally invasive process is expected to promote growth and improve safety conditions without damaging the turf.

A further set of jump-outs is scheduled for Thursday 17 April, and, pending a positive outcome, racing is expected to resume on ANZAC Day and for The Coast Raceday.

Experts expressed confidence in the success of the remediation plan. Ongoing monitoring and assessments will continue to ensure the safety and integrity of the racing surface.

Importantly, it has been confirmed that the issue was not related to an early return to racing. The turf's root system remains strong and stable, with no shifting observed.

The track has already hosted two successful race meetings and three sets of jump-outs without issue, involving over 300 horse movements.

Track remediation is being guided by leading turf specialists in collaboration with Gosford's experienced track manager, Steve Scollard.

Every measure is being taken to ensure the racing surface remains safe and race-ready moving forward.