It could be months before the Millicent Racecourse reopens as last week’s tornado has caused extensive damage which has to be repaired.

The course has a circumference of 1.6km and as much as a kilometre of its aluminium running rails were damaged by the gale-force winds and fallen tree limbs.

The gutters on three sides of the former secretary’s office have to be replaced while the shelter housing the permanent starting gates has to be righted.

The 100-acre property has dozens of mature stringybark trees and many have either lost branches or been uprooted.

In the interests of safety, the Millicent Racing Club has closed the course indefinitely until the repairs can be done.

There has been racing at the site since the mid-1930s with the last official meeting held over 50 years ago.

Since then, it has been solely used as a training facility and attracted strong patronage from trainers, owners and jockeys across the region.

The interior of the course is used to agist sheep and this is a valuable money spinner.

A Millicent Racing Club spokesperson told The SE Voice that an insurance assessor inspected the Millicent Racecourse on Thursday.

The spokesperson said his club would be in position to commence the repairs after the insurance matters has been finalised.

“Replacement or repair of the aluminium running rails is a specialised task,” he said.

“I had a hand in installing them around 30 years ago. Before that, the running rails were made of wood.

“It might be hard to get workers during the summer holiday period.

“That is why we are saying it could be a few months before the Millicent Racecourse can be used again.”

The spokesperson said the committee of the Millicent Racing Club would be meeting again as soon as the insurance assessor’s report was received.

There will be no change to the running of the $32,000 2024 Millicent Cup at Glenburnie near Mount Gambier on June 2.