THOROUGHBRED and harness racing in Swan Hill has been given a $500,000 leg-up after funding was announced on Wednesday night.
Speaking to race-goers, Victorian Minister for Racing Martin Pakula declared half-a-million dollars would be spent in upgrades to provide the Swan Hill Trotting Club and Swan Hill Harness Racing Club with better facilities and tools to look after the racing precinct.
A new dust suppression watering system and control system will be installed to maintain the sand training track, and money has been allocated for the clubs to purchase a heavy-duty aerator that will allow curators to re-compact soil to create safer training and racing surfaces.
The trotting club will give a new tractor, a track lighting generator and extra fencing and signage.
Mr Pakula said Mallee’s racing industry sustains 570 full-time jobs to locals and brings in more than $58 million a year to the Victorian economy.
For more on this story, check out Friday’s The Guardian (March 22)
