The structure sustained extensive damage with most of the roof ripped off and part of the rear brick wall reduced to rubble on the ground.

Mark Ross, president of the Parkes Jockey Club said he inspected the grandstand with a local builder on Sunday. 

“It’s not looking good,” Mark said. 

“The builder said maybe the bottom half at the bar end might be salvageable, but we won’t know until a structural engineer has inspected it thoroughly. 

“Bricks have fallen through the ceiling in the kitchen, it doesn’t look that bad but we can’t get in that end to have a good look, it’s totally unsafe.”

“It’s insured with Racing NSW, so it will be up to them what happens to it. I will get in contact with them today (Monday) and find out where to go from here.”

The grandstand, built in 1928, is not heritage listed and was last refurbished in 1996.

The grounds are under a trust and the Jockey Club had recently applied for funding through the trust to repair the roofs on both the grandstands.

Two trees were blown onto the running rail at the back of the racetrack itself, which had to be removed at a cost of $1000.

“We have a special machine coming on Wednesday to condition the track, which will be reopened to trainers by Thursday,” Mark said.

The next race meeting for Parkes Jockey Club is on the Australia Day long weekend in January.

This is not the first time the roof has been taken off the grandstand by strong winds.

The Western Champion reported on Monday, October 8, 1928, that a “big cyclonic storm” wrecked the newly built Parkes Jockey Club grandstand.

Described as not a mere passing blow, but a gale of cyclonic character lasting an hour, the storm lifted the roof off the grandstand and dropped it down over the steps. 

“The principals and other timber of the roof were broken, though the greater part of the galvanised iron was undamaged,” the report said.