The much-maligned Kensington track at Randwick is to be dug up and rebuilt after being idle for more than 18 months.

Since the last race meeting on the track in November 2014, the surface has performed poorly when tested in barrier trials.

On Thursday, the Australian Turf Club announced the best way forward was to completely rebuild the track and its drainage system with a view to racing on it by summer next year.

ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said the club's board wanted to adopt similar techniques to the design of the Canterbury track which is recognised as the best wet weather surface in Sydney.

"The ATC has conducted with Racing NSW a detailed and diligent study into the best way forward for the Kensington track, and feels that starting from scratch gives us the best long-term future," Pearce said.

"We have held extensive discussions with a wide range of industry experts and participants and while this has taken some time, we are taking every measure to achieve an optimum long-term result for the industry.

"At the heart of the new design will be an amplified drainage system which we are confident will allow the track to perform across the year, especially during periods of poor weather.

"We hope to start work as soon as possible to take advantage of the optimum weather conditions during the spring and summer months of 2016 for construction and early growth, and aim to be back racing on the Kensington track in the summer of 2017.