Runners score up at the Warragul trials on Saturday morning.
The $434,000 upgrade of the Warragul harness racing track passed its first test with flying colours on Saturday morning.
Barrier trials were conducted to give trainers and drivers a feel for the circuit before the official opening race meeting on Monday, December 1.
Works at the track have taken place since early October. Contractors have imported a massive amount of fill and have increased the camber of the two bends to 12.5%, and the two straights to 4%, in line with modern animal welfare and competitor safety requirements.
Improvements and repairs to perimeter fencing and a change of the type of material used on the track have also been incorporated.
Drivers who competed at Saturday's trials were in high praise of the new track, most suggesting that the track needs a bit of time to settle in.
They all agree the works were worthwhile and have made the track a definite improvement on the previous one.
The upgrade project, funded by the Warragul Harness Racing Club, Harness Racing Victoria and the Coalition State Government, ushers in an exciting new era for trotting in Gippsland, with the new track set to become one of the best and fastest smaller racing circuits in Australia.
Also on Monday, Warragul Harness Racing Club celebrates 75 years of racing.
Although trotting events have been staged at the Warragul Showgrounds site since the 1890s, a Warragul and District Trotting Club was formed in 1939, and conducted it's first race meeting at Logan Park on November 18 of that year.
After a lapse because of World War II, the club reformed in 1946 and changed it's name to the Warragul Harness Racing Club in 1985.
With the first race due to commence at around 1:30pm, the official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place just after 1pm.
Course entry will be free on Monday to ensure a big crowd to witness the start of a new era in trotting at Warragul.
