Work on a new six furlong sprint track at Leopardstown will begin in October, and it's hoped that racing will begin on it sometime in the year 2001.
The new course will be to the left of the current sprint track as viewed from the stands. It means that the current racecourse stables will have to be demolished and alterations made to the golf course in the infield area.
The work is a result of the plans for a motorway, reportedly set to open in 2003, which will run through the first furlong of the current sprint course.
"The existing six furlong course will not be interfered with until we are ready to race on the new course," said the Leopardstown racecourse manager Tom Burke yesterday. "There are plans for three stages of work on the new track, and at the moment I would say it will be two years before it is ready." Burke added that a new stable area is planned to be built closer to the golf course, but described the initial work of the redevelopment as having a "minimal" effect on the golf course. However, while work is in progress some holes on the course may have to be altered or closed down.
Burke described the ground at Leopardstown as currently good, but with rain forecast there could be some give on Sunday for the Group Three Derrinstown Derby Trial.
That forecast could help Dermot Weld make up his mind on whether Port Bayou or River Canyon goes in the big race. "Port Bayou goes on any ground, while River Canyon likes a good dig. We will wait a while before making a decision," Weld said yesterday after nominating All To Easy as his 1,000 Guineas Trial candidate.
