Redevelopment
In October 2001, the Melbourne Racing Club commenced the redevelopment of Sandown Racecourse. This consisted of an additional 30 metre wide home turn and widening of the main straight from 30 to 45 metres, and widening of the turn out of the straight from 30 to 45 metres. This created two turf tracks. The course using the outer home turn and outside 30 metres in the main straight was named Sandown Hillside, and the course comprising the reconfigured inner home turn and full 45 metres wide straight was named Sandown Lakeside. The Lakeside course has a circumference of 1857 metres and a home straight of 407 metres and the Hillside course is 2087 metres in circumference with a home straight of 491 metres. Racing on the reconfigured tracks commenced on 25 January 2003 with the number of meeting hosted at Sandown being increased from 32 to 41 per season.
The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival traditionally closes with the Sandown Carnival. This carnival features two meetings, Sandown Classic Day and Eclipse Stakes Day in November each year.
Read more about this topic: Sandown Racecourse