Drainage and the surface at the popular Central West racing venue have been the subject of much debate going back as far as 2001 when a pre-first race deluge washed out the Mudgee club’s biggest meeting of the year.

The subject raised its ugly head again a year later when helicopters were used to dry the track on cup morning and after the running of five races another deluge washed out the balance of the meeting, including the cup.

The club has done work on both the drainage and improving the surface in the years since but once again after the Gooree Cup meeting earlier this year, closing the track for major upgrade after the 2008 Oatley Wines Mudgee Cup was again being called for by some players in the industry.

Walker said the club had bided its time and waited until they could get the best advice possible before deciding on a path forward to better the racing surface.

“Recently, Ian Chivers, who is a contracted advisor to Racing NSW on race tracks visited Mudgee and inspected the track and as a result we have an agreed action plan to bring the track up to standard,” Walker said.

“Chivers said to do a complete upgrade would close the track to racing for close to a year, and appreciated that a country club that only races seven times a year can ill afford to do that.

“He looked at the camber on the turns, which would have been a major reason for an upgrade, and believes that because of the long straight that no horse was disappointed by the present surface.

“He has therefore recommended that we aerate the track and top dress twice yearly for the next five years and gradually build up the track and also has made recommendations in relation to improved drainage.

“As a result the Mudgee Race Club has budgeted to spend $20,000 per annum on topsoil and coring work to bring the racing surface to a much improved standard.