Cash injection with jockey club to spend $1.3 million on upgrades

It will be funded by Racing New South Wales.

The project will provide for a new, fully automated irrigation system which will service the Club's course proper, as well as B grass and sand track.

The club will also undertake an upgrade of its irrigation system, which follows a recent project to improve the its water supply.

The works to the irrigation system are expected to start in March.

"This upgrade is great news for Ballina. The new system will provide reliable and efficient irrigation in preparation of racing and training surfaces" Ballina Jockey Club president David Daniel said.

"This project highlights the passion and commitment that Racing NSW has for Country racing, and we are extremely grateful for their support."

This project is one of nine projects across country and provincial NSW, among a tranche of $20 million in capital works funding from Racing NSW.

In other racing, Tribeca Star won the $150,000 country qualifier on February 17 and will run in the $1 million final at Randwick in April.

The meeting had to be transferred from Lismore to Grafton due to wet weather.

Tribeca Star has local connections with the Viva Racing team and is trained by Murwillumbah's Matt Dunn.

Dunn also had six-year-old gelding Rainbow Connection qualify for the final at Randwick.

Racing returns to the Northern Rivers with a TAB meeting at Ballina on March 1.