Greyhound racing
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The redeveloped Wagga Greyhound Racing Club has been given the tick of approval by Greyhound Racing NSW stewards.
Chief steward Clint Bentley and Riverina steward Bill Levy inspected the track and gave to green light to resume 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.
With the seal of approval, the Wagga Greyhound Racing Club will have its next meeting on Friday night.
Stewards walked the track before a number of greyhound trialled on the surface, and Bentley was impressed with the changes.
"It looks really good, I'm very happy with it and it's ready to go," he said.
"It's 100 per cent better."
Eight inches of the soil has been taken out for the works with new soil coming in.
After a two-inch base was relayed, a recycled geofabric layer then added before another six inches of soil put on top.
Levy said the geofabric layer would aid the track in retaining moisture.
"The geofabric gives you a base to put the new sand on and it allows the moisture to come through and stops the clay from coming up," he said.
"Most importantly come summer the track will now hold moisture, before in the 35-40 degrees it needed continuous water, water, water, but this new system should make all the difference."
Levy warned times will be slower for the first three or four months as the track settles, but in the long term would benefit in the prevention of injuries.
As part of the works the camber of the track has been changed which will help dogs take corners at higher speeds, and push them towards the rail so they cover less distance.
With the track improvements Levy is expecting more visitors to the region, which would increase numbers and interest in Riverina racing.
"It gives people confidence to come and race here," he said.
"You just don't want locals but other comings which is good for the TAB situation."
With Wagga back on the TAB schedule, the club will race regularly on a Friday evening, but also has prime Wednesday twilight meetings booked in.
Another boost for greyhound racing in the city, Wagga will stage a Saturday night TAB meeting on September 6 as The Gardens grandstand is updated.