STAWELL - Work on the new lighting towers at Stawell Racing Club has now been completed.
The lights were switched on Tuesday morning for the first time after eight months of work, that included both underground installation and the setting up of 20 poles around the track.
Racing Victoria Project Manager, David Garrett was pleased with the results.
"We started in about May 2011, and hoped to be finished by October," Mr Garrett said.
"But at least we got the lights in for the coming winter, giving maximum benefit for pre-dawn training."
Mr Garrett said the new lights give the club's trainers the option of starting pre-dawn training earlier during summer, to beat the heat.
"It will also suit the track manager, he will get to do his watering earlier," he said.
The total cost of the project was $180,000, with funding provided by both the previous State Government and the racing industry.
Twenty poles have been erected - 19 of these are 12 metres high and one is 22 metres high, spanning 60-70 metres apart around the track.
The light tower has two lucks - a brand of LED lighting equipment, which according to Mr Garrett is 'good for track riding.'
"Those out on the track will able to see 300 metres either way. The light makes track riding so much safer for riders, and the two lights (that face away from each other) throw light for the trackwork supervisor," Mr Garrett said.
"The rider wears an LED light on their skull cap in pre-dawn training so the supervisor can see them."
Stawell trainer Terry O'Sullivan said the introduction of the lighting towers gives trainers flexibility to start track work earlier and it will now be safer.
"But the real benefit will be in winter, when the sun's not out until 7am," Mr O'Sullivan said.
There is a hut now situated in a gap under the one of the light towers at the 13-1400 metre mark, overlooking the whole track so track supervisors can look out and keep an eye on trainers and their horses.
It is equipped with a siren to alert trainers and supervisors of any loose horses, and a strobe light.
The hut not only will help track supervisors with horses and their trainers, but jockeys on race days.
Previously, not every jockey was able to directly communicate with the track supervisor because their tower was situated where only certain trainers could go through.
"Where the hut is situated now, everyone can go past and speak to the track supervisor. There will be an increase an communication. Riders can go past him and address any issues they have straightaway," Mr Garrett said.
Another safety feature has been installed at Stawell Racing Club, with the introduction of the MawSafe plastic running rail around the track.
The rail is flexible, and should horses run into them they bounce off and are less likely to be injured.
Trainer O'Sullivan hailed the plastic running rails as 'excellent.'
"They are a big benefit to the track, no doubt about that," he said.
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