State-of-the-art railing to enhance safety

The Bunbury Turf Club has put safety first, installing state-of-the art track safety railing to help prevent serious racing injuries.

The $130,000 plastic fence, funded by Racing and Wagering Western Australia, will help increase safety for silks and horses ahead of the club’s first trial of the new season on Friday, October 14.

Bunbury Turf Club manager Paul Rossiter was delighted with the major safety enhancement of the track.

Similar railings have already been installed at both Belmont and Ascot.

They are designed to reduce the impact of a jockey or horse’s fall.

"We are just very excited to follow on from Belmont and Ascot to be the first provincial race club in Western Australia to have the new fence installed," he said.

"It should make for safer racing and it’s just the way of the future."

Rossiter has high hopes for the upcoming season, with a number of exciting events planned in Bunbury’s more compact four-month racing calendar.

Among the highlights are two Friday night twilight meetings, as well as six Sunday "family day" programs.

Racing on New Year’s Day and Australia Day is also expected to draw big crowds to the club’s Bussell Highway headquarters.

"We’re just looking forward to our best ever race season," Rossiter said.

"Last year’s twilight racing proved to be really successful so we are hoping to build on that."

Turf Club marketing coordinator Brody Russell said there would be no better place to celebrate the New Year.

The meeting is typically reserved for the annual BMW Perth Cup.

"It (New Years Day) will be a day for everyone, so we just want to create a nice family atmosphere on course," Russell said.

"No doubt the function rooms will be full and there will be plenty for the kids."

The club will also unveil their refurbished function centre to the public during the first Sunday meeting of the season on November 20.

Racing officially kicks off at the track on Thursday, October 20.