Hundreds of tonnes of a special mix of cinders and sand are being stockedpiled on site ready to go on the racing surface next week.

And, in a Western Advocate exclusive, readers can go to our website and view the first ever driver’s eye footage of the new track, filmed from the back of the truck of Tablelands Builders project manager Phil Hampton.

It gives trotting fans their first taste of what people should expect at the facility’s first meeting on October 10.

Mr Hampton said they were now at the pointy end of the project.

“We’re just putting the final granite trim on the track at the moment,” he said. “Specialist contractors will be coming up from Goulburn next week to put the surface down.

“For weeks now they have been trucking the base up from Goulburn and stockpiling it on site. However, there’s hundreds of tonnes needed, so there’s lots more to come. We expect it will take three or four weeks to get the job done.

“The material is made of a mixture of cinders and sand, and will be laid 200mm thick. It’s the surface Harness Racing NSW wants for the track.”

Bathurst Harness Racing chief executive officer Danny Dwyer said the surface was all about speed.

“Track designer Graeme Mahar from Victoria used it on the redevelopment of the paceway at Goulburn, and said the feedback had been so positive he decided it should also be laid at Bathurst.

“It’s been so good that only about four months ago they ripped up the surface at the Menangle Park headquarters, closed it down for a couple of weeks, and changed over to it.

“The key is that it’s a super fast surface because they are running quick times at Goulburn and the trainers and drivers are telling us it’s a great track to drive on with very low maintenance.”

Mr Dwyer said the first meeting at the new complex would be on Friday, October 10.

“The official opening will be held at noon on Sunday, October 19,” he said.

“We are also planning a special promotion to coincide with the very last meeting at the Bathurst Showground on Sunday, September 21. It will be the end of an era with the club  moving to its new home after more than 104 years.”

Mr Dwyer said it was an exciting time for the sport in the region.

“It was a big decision to move away from the showground paceway to the new venue, but we are sure it will pay off,” Mr Dwyer said.

“The development is integral to plans by Harness Racing NSW to grow the sport and make it sustainable in country centres.”