THE new racing surface on the Wagga Greyhound Racing Club track will face its moment of truth this week.
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After the expensive overhaul funded by Greyhound Racing NSW, the track will be inspected by stewards on Friday ahead of an expected return to racing on August 8.
GRNSW chief steward Clint Bentley, from Sydney, and Riverina-based steward Bill Levy will assess the track before six greyhounds take part in trials on the fresh surface.
WGRC stalwart Rod Oakman revealed Bentley and Levy would check a number of elements, including the camber of the track, during their inspection.
Oakman said the stewards needed to "sign off" on the new racing surface before the club could hold its comeback meeting on Friday week.
"They'll (stewards) walk the track and make sure everything is 100 per cent," Oakman said.
"They have to pass it before we'll be allowed to race again.
"Once they sign-off (on the track) the report will go the governing body.
"If they're happy, we'll be able to proceed (with racing). "
All racing at the Wagga Showground circuit was cancelled in July to allow the re-surfacing work to be completed at an estimated cost of $50,000.
A series of critical trials will be conducted on Friday as part of the inspection by the stewards.
Oakman is adamant WGRC will be given the "green light" to resume racing.
"We can't see there being a problem," he said.
With Wagga back on the TAB schedule, the club will race regularly on a Friday evening, but also has prime Wednesday twilight meetings booked as well.
In another boost for greyhound racing in the city, Wagga will stage a Saturday night TAB meeting in September.
Oakman said WGRC was "offered" the extra race date when another track could not hold the meeting.
"It shows they (GRNSW) have confidence in racing at Wagga," Oakman said.
"At this stage it's a one-off Saturday meeting, but could lead to others."
Wagga traditionally raced on Saturdays before the club became a regular part of the TAB circuit five years ago.