VRC announces major Flemington upgrade Tue, 31 Jul 2012

The Victoria Racing Club is to embark on a rebuilding and refurbishment programme aimed at consolidating Flemington as the country's pre-eminent racecourse.

Along with annual prize-money increases and upgrades in punting and information technology, the VRC has already begun a major refurbishment of its main public grandstand and will build a new facility to replace the old members' stand.

The club is to increase prizemoney by A$960,000 for the new season and will offer a total of almost A$37 million to owners, the most of any Australian racing club.

Among the technology improvements will be new, high-density wi-fi and a new electronic payment system for punters.

Flemington's Tabaret entertainment centre is also to be renovated and will be renamed the Headquarters Tavern.

The old members' grandstand, large parts of which were closed during the last Melbourne Cup carnival, is to be replaced by a new stand with construction to commence after the 2015 spring carnival.