By Robert Windmill

MELBOURNE, Feb 8 AAP - The opening of Geelong's newly renovated synthetic track has been delayed by nearly two months.

Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said the track would be unavailable for racing until Geelong's May 28 meeting but would be open for jump-outs and training by the end of April.

The new track, installed by Pro-Ride Australia and designed to replace the ThoroughTrack, was to have been open for racing on April 9.

Hines said the delay was due to a more extensive rebuild of the the track base than was originally anticipated.

"When our contractor Pro-Ride removed the existing racing surface it became apparent that the base was not in a good condition," Hines said.

"We have decided to renew the base and the drainage layer to ensure that we overcome the drainage issues that have plagued synthetic tracks in other jurisdictions and that we get it absolutely right before returning to racing on the new surface."

Cost of the extra work is expected to blow the cost of the project out by several hundred thousand dollars to as much as $1.5 million.

The Pro Ride track replaces the Geelong's ThoroughTrack which was the first synthetic racetrack in Victoria and opened in July 2007.

The last ThoroughTrack meeting was in October 2008.

Racing on the ThoroughTrack was postponed last year when stones contaminated the surface after drainage works were carried out.

Hines said the future of the synthetic tracks in Victoria depended on the success of the Pro-Ride track.

He thanked Geelong trainers and the Geelong Racing Club for their patience.

Seven race meetings scheduled for the new synthetic track in April and May have been transferred to the turf track at Geelong or nearby venues.

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