The Pinehurst Harness Track is ready to show off its new all-weather show ring, and the early returns are that it's a winner.

Constructed on the infield of the half-mile track at the facility, the new, permanent outdoor horse riding area is approximately 280 feet by 300 feet and can be divided up into multiple show rings for various events.

"We have been wanting for this for a long time," said Kay Whitlock, a horse show promoter from Southern Pines. "This is major. It was something that was needed for all competitions."

The ring can be utilized for dressage, hunter jumper and other equine competitions at the track, which is located at 200 Beulah Hill Road.

It has a 6-inch compacted clay base with 6 inches of unwashed stone screenings compacted on top of the clay.

The surface can be groomed to the needs of each individual event in terms of depth and compaction within the arena.

"It's really a huge asset," said Ray Skellington, track supervisor. "It will allow us to retain the current shows we have and grow them bigger, and on top of that we will be able to attract so much more. I think it will be a real positive for the entire horse community in this area."

The ring will withstand some of the heavy rainfall in the area that in the past has delayed shows.

The need for the new ring arose because the turf at the track had become compacted over the years and had caused shows to leave, said show promoter Sue Smithson.

Smithson said the new ring, coupled with the barn renovations in recent years, should again make the Harness Track a premiere destination for horse shows.

"It has so much atmosphere and history," she said of the Harness Track. "Now it is becoming more user-friendly ... Soon show managers will hear we have improved footing and barns and I hope they will bring the shows back."

The Pinehurst Harness Track is a 111-acre equestrian facility that has been a winter training center for standardbred horses since 1915. The grounds consist of three training tracks and several center aisle barns with approximately 300 stalls, as well as several paddocks.

The new show ring has already led to a commitment of four or five new shows added to the schedule of events for 2012.

Whitlock said the new ring combined with the professionalism of the Harness Track staff are reasons that she has agreed to bring her shows to the Harness Track.

She said she runs 12 dressage shows a year. This coming year she will bring five of those shows - up from one this year - to the Harness Track to take advantage of the new all-weather show ring.

"For me, I now have the ability to run more rings and to keep more people happy," Whitlock said.

Built by Jamestown-based Barco Construction, the ring cost $95,000 to complete. The village budgeted $75,000 for the project and four local show promoters chipped in the rest, Skellington said.

The idea to build the ring came out of the village's cost-containment efforts. By building the ring, it is hoped that the Harness Track will be able extend its show season by a couple of weeks and bring in more shows, which will bring in more revenue.

Skellington said he expects the show ring to pay for itself within five years. And that doesn't count the boon to the local economy in terms of filled hotel rooms, more diners at local restaurants and shoppers at local businesses.

"I feel really good about what we have now," Skellington said. "It turned out even better than I expected."

For information about reserving the show rings for an event, contact Skellington at (910) 295-4446.

Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.