The Seymour racetrack will undergo more work during the warmer months in a bid to get it to reach its full potential.
Following ongoing analysis and testing, Racing Victoria and the Seymour Racing Club have announced plans to to over-sow the current rye grass with kikuyu at the start of December.
The two grass species will combine to allow the track to perform during both the hot and cold months.
The enhancement will require three summer Seymour meetings in December and February to be transferred in a bid to give the track time to consolidate.
With a busy spring season, including the Seymour Cup on October 20, three upcoming meetings have been transferred to Wangaratta and Tatura, resulting in Seymour racing just once a month leading into spring.
Seymour chief executive Penny Reeve said the track was in an improved condition from 12 months ago when several meetings were moved elsewhere
“The analysis has shown that the root structure of the rye grass is struggling when the ground temperature rises significantly in late summer and early autumn, so we expect the introduction of the kikuyu grass will improve the track’s year-round performance,” Reeve said.
“While it is always disappointing to transfer race meetings, the adjusted schedule will allow us to best maintain the surface in the lead-up to a busy spring period in which the club is looking forward to hosting six meetings.”
