Randwick’s Queen Elizabeth II grandstand has been declared safe in time for Saturday’s Epsom Handicap meeting.
The Australian Turf Club Board confirmed on Tuesday the ageing facility would be open to the public for its most important race meeting of the Sydney spring carnival.
“We are delighted to receive the engineer’s sign-off,” chief executive Darren Pearce said in a statement.
Epsom day at Randwick had been in doubt because of structural concerns with the 50-year-old grandstand’s roof.
Pearce said the roof had been removed ahead of schedule.
“If anything, the removal of the outer extremities of the roof has eliminated the large shadow that used to be cast over the lawn and parade ring,” Pearce said.
The Epsom meeting will be one of the last fixtures before Randwick is closed for a $150 million facelift.
Randwick will be closed after the Melbourne Cup day meeting.
AAP TURF
