PRESS RELEASE PHUMELELA.

RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited

Starting February next year Phumelela will stage three race meetings weekly on the Highveld from October through April, which should significantly reduce the difficulties experienced in finding suitable racing opportunities for many horses during those months.
Staging three meetings weekly for six months in 2009 will generate 140 meetings in total on the Highveld next year – 15 more than during the current year.
In addition, the Vaal turf track will be split into two separate tracks on an experimental basis from next February, which will ensure at least two turf tracks are in operation on the Highveld at all times.
This is particularly important in terms of the turf tracks’ annual revitalisation programmes. Two separate turf tracks at both Turffontein and Vaal will enable one surface at each of the venues to undergo their annual spring treatments simultaneously, while the others are being utilised.
Creating two turf tracks at Vaal will be accomplished by dividing the 30-metre wide straight in two. Race meetings on the outside half of the straight will comprise races down the straight only (1000m to 1600m), while the inside track will have both a straight 1600m course as well as the existing menu of races round the turn. All fields for all races will be limited to 14 runners.
More good news is that the inside track at Turffontein is in mint condition and this Sunday’s meeting on the surface has attracted 135 runners. Both the Maiden Plate for fillies over 1200m and a Maiden Plate 1450m were split into two races.
Sections of the inside track were in poor condition in August due to unseasonal rain late in May and early June that cut up the surface, which could not recover winter conditions. Following intense repair work and a break from racing, accomplished by moving some inside track meetings to the standside track, the track has recovered really well.
The spring treatment of the standside track was completed several weeks ago and the surface has thrived since. It is set to be in mint condition when it is reopened for racing at the Charity Mile November Handicap race meeting on Saturday 1 November.

More information, contact:
Robert Garner
Phumelela GM Marketing & Communications
+27 11 681 1884
rgarner@phumelela.com

haven't seen the new Turfies track in person but to hear it's in 'mint' condition is very pleasing as it looked pretty poor a year or 2 ago and seemed on the decline.

The horsies themselves will be pleased no doubt.