It’s been 10 years in the making – now Kilmore Racing Club’s state-of-the-art stable facility is open to harness racing participants.

Through the support of HRV, Racing Victoria, Country Racing Victoria and the Victorian Government, the $5.7 million project replaces the existing precinct with 110 new horse stalls for both harness and thoroughbred usage.

“We’ve taken into consideration the standardbred and thoroughbred requirements are different, it was a key consideration in everything we’ve done”, Kilmore CEO Ben Murphy said.

“Importantly we wanted to ensure the standardbred was catered to and we have longer tie-up stalls (and) wider breezeways to factor in we’ve got sulkies and bigger equipment.”

Participants will regularly have the opportunity to enjoy the new complex, with consistent race dates scheduled every second Thursday – a move the club has welcomed.

“The club is really excited by the consistency of the program we’ve got, to have the support of HRV to give us that consistent Thursday night schedule is exciting because our community really enjoys it.

“We know we get good outcomes in our bistro and now a really good facility for the horses should help grow the sport.”

Features of the new facilities include an indoor pre-parade ring, a trainers and strappers’ room with kitchen facilities plus new drivers and stewards’ rooms.

Participants enjoyed the experience yesterday when the facility was officially opened ahead of last night’s return of harness racing to Kilmore after a brief sabbatical for the works.

HRV CEO Matt Isaacs congratulated the club on this “outstanding new facility”.

“Kilmore Racing Club’s dedication to providing a world-class experience for participants and their horses is to be celebrated,” Isaacs said.

“Thanks to the outstanding support of Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines and the Victorian Government, the two racing codes and above all, the Kilmore club’s outstanding racing community, our participants will rightly be able to ply their trade and show their brilliance from the comfort of an incredible racing precinct.

“And, pleasingly, they will be able to race here more often, with 26 meetings in the next 12 months, a marked increase as a result of the new racing calendar model.”

Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines said the new facilities would provide extra protection for trainers and racehorses, particularly during race meetings in winter.

“We’re proud to invest in these upgrades, which are incredibly valuable for regional racing, the dozens of trainers and the 140 horses based at Kilmore.”