However, a new announcement means the track will become a pioneer across the entire state as it becomes the first to introduce a sprint lane – for a trial period anyway.

Even the likes of Menangle Park and Bankstown have never had a sprint lane despite hosting regular Group 1 meetings, though they have become the norm at major tracks in Queensland and Victoria.

Another announcement that the new Bathurst track will stage 12-horse races, rather than the 11 that can be accommodated at the Showground, means it is an exciting time for the club as they prepare for the switch in a few months.

“It is a two-part development. Given that we’re going to be starting to race 12-horse fields, it is fairly imperative that the perception is there that any horse has a chance of winning,” BHRC secretary Danny Dwyer said.

“Part of that is to have a sprint lane, which will give horses a chance that may have drawn badly or get themselves into a tough position in the field.

“It hasn’t happened before anywhere in NSW, and we welcome the chance to give it a trial for the first six months.”

For non-harness racing types, the move will mean that in the home straight, the inside portion of the track is cut away to effectively create an extra lane wide enough for another horse to move into if stuck behind the leader.

Automatically, it enhances the winning prospects for chasers who are otherwise locked into a run on the pegs and relying on pure luck to help open a gap somewhere in front of them.

Naturally, there are arguments for and against such a change. Some trainers and drivers are happy to know they can get stuck on the inside and behind the leader and still have a good chance of winning as they hit the home straight.

On the flipside, horses that spend plenty of energy finding the front and being able to hold it will suddenly have to contend not only with fast finishers down the outside, but desperate lunges from the inside as well.

“There are going to be some trainers and drivers for it, some against it, and we will welcome any feedback they have about it and their input will be paramount to whether we keep the system after the trial or not,” Dwyer said.

“It really does change the dynamics of the racing out there. If you lead and try to hold it, you can find yourself under siege from both sides. If you want to settle further back, it gives you an opportunity to make a run on the inside.

“What we’re hoping is that both the changes will lead to bigger fields, and on the back of that a higher amount of turnover for the club.”