Otago clubs have picked up almost $100,000 in grants in the latest round of funding from the Racing Safety Development Fund, released yesterday.
The Otago Racing Club is the biggest winner in the funding round, receiving $45,000 to assist in installing a plastic running rail around the course proper.
The club installed an aluminium running rail in the latter years of last decade, chief executive Andre Klein said.
''We haven't had it all that long - five or six years ago, NZTR [New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing] instructed all the clubs to put in aluminium running rails.''
A health and safety issue had been raised with the sand track on the inside of the course proper, which required the inner track to have a rail installed.
''We thought we would try to source the funding for the plastic rail for the course proper and the sand track would get the aluminium rail installed.
''We've already ordered the [plastic] running rail - it would nice to have it in place no later in March.''
Klein was on course at Ellerslie in January when Kerrin McEvoy and his mount, Massale, were knocked over during the running of the Karaka Million and the pair tumbled into the plastic rail, which broke away as it was designed to do.
''That for me was a sign that we needed to do something at Wingatui a.s.a.p.,'' Klein said.
The second-largest grant in Otago goes to the Otago Greyhound Racing Club, which is extending its kennel block.
The club received $27,647.10 from the fund to assist in the construction of the block.
Club president John Guthrie said the construction of the building, which could cost up to $80,000 once completed, would vastly improve the pre-race process for dogs.
''The building is going to to accommodate a far better flow than the current setup.''
The building would feature three sets of eight kennels, giving the club an extra 24 kennels in total.
The Forbury Park Trotting Club can continue two projects after receiving $13,900.50 for a security gate and drainage.
The club's general manager, John Ayoub, said the gate to the float park on Plunket St would be automated once the project was completed.
Regular users of the track would have security tags to allow them access. There would be keypad entry for other users, although a simple push of a button would allow access on race nights.
The drainage work was on the northeastern bend and would involve replacing a pipe that led from the club's own pump station inside the track out to the public drains.
Ayoub said a section of track would need to be dug up, so the work would be completed during a gap between race meetings.
The Roxburgh Trotting Club will use the $10,327.50 from the fund to install fencing between the stables and the public, club committee member Geoff Knight said.
''Around the stabling area will be completely compounded so horses and public can be completely separate,'' he said.
''Chicanes will be in place so people can get through and horses can't.''
The project's total cost will be about $23,000 and will also include refencing ''basically half the track's circumference'', Knight said.
A total of $703,596.70 was given to 25 clubs around New Zealand. The grants are given on a 50/50 basis.
