Club in race for trotting venue
‘Luckiest horse alive’ Brookajoe defies vets’ opinions
THE homeless Gold Coast Harness Racing Club is looking at building a complex closer to the city to drag the sport back on to the Glitter Strip.
GCHRC boss Barry Grimsey has revealed a bold ploy to construct a track “closer to the crowds”. He said it would also cater for greyhound racing, indoor cricket, caravan shows and music concerts. Mr Grimsey expected to reveal the possible sites within a month.
The proposal comes days after Racing Queensland (RQ) called for interest on the development of harness and greyhound racing facilities in the southern and western corridors of Brisbane and is in contrast to contruction baron Kevin Seymour’s backing of a track north of the Coast.
He is supporting a proposal by the Yatala Harness Racing Club for the corner of Zipfs and Alberton roads.
The GCHRC has led a nomadic life since being kicked out of Parklands in 2013 to make way for the Commonwealth Games athletes village.
The club has withdrawn threat of legal action over the $10.2 million compensation promised by the State Government and no longer holds meetings at Albion Park, Brisbane.
“Our idea would be a multipurpose complex exactly like Parklands,” said Mr Grimsey.
“It’s a reinvented Parklands site with more features.
“Everyone knows you have to have an outside income stream and we are aware of it.
“The type of land we are looking for we can accommodate that. Parklands was more or less the best complex in Aus- tralia with the best facilities.
“The dogs were on the one side and we were on the other, and it’s the same sort of thing we’re looking at now.”
While still welcome to the idea of being based further north, Grimsey said his preference was to be closer to the city. “We have a few sites in mind on the Gold Coast itself and hopefully in the next two or three weeks we will get some confirmation on that.
“You’d say they (the sites) are from Bundall down, in that corridor. We don’t want to be isolated in the middle of nowhere. We have some very good options and we are at the final stages of negotiations now.”
RQ chief executive Dr Eliot Forbes said he hoped the planning process, which leaves five weeks to lodge a submission and is bankrolled by the Racing Infrastructure Fund, would lure a number of tenders.
“What we are launching will result in a major step for harness and greyhound racing which will enhance safety, provide state-of-the-art facilities and a platform to grow both codes.”
BROOKAJOE’S journey back from the brink of death has hit its highest point with the gelding winning his first race on the Gold Coast.
The five-year-old was a phone call away from being put down because of injury in 2015 but joined the winners circle for the first time in his 10-run career on Saturday when he won the Maiden Handicap (1400m).
It was an emotional victory for Gold Coast trainer Wayne King who found Brookajoe severely injured in his box in mid-2015.
“He got caught up against the wall and scrambled with his back legs trying to push off the wall,” King said.
“He had kicked out with one leg and smashed his other leg with it. It was right on the fetlock joint – he put a big hole in the bone.”
King immediately rushed Brookajoe to the vet and on the Friday of the second week he was told nothing more could be done to save the horse who would need to be euthanised.
In a lifesaving change of luck for Brookajoe, Gold Coast-based owner Michael Farr couldn’t be reached while working in Darwin and as a result the horse couldn’t be put down until the vet contacted him on Monday.
But when vet staff arrived after the weekend, Brookajoe was “running around like a two-year-old” in the paddock.
“I was sitting at home on the Tuesday night and next thing I get a phone call from the vet saying, ‘ come and get your horse’,” King said.
“I was saying, ‘ no you got the wrong person, my horse is got put down last week’.
“He is the luckiest horse alive. If they could had of got in touch with the owner he wouldn’t be here now.”
Brookajoe may have been alive but vets said he would never race or be ridden again.
But in another twist of fate King worked day and night with Brookajoe and the horse made a stunning return to racing on April 16 last year, nearly a year after his previous run on May 3, 2015.
Brookajoe, with fluro orange bandages on every leg, went even further on Saturday when he crossed 2.3 lengths in front of any of his rivals.
“I got home after the race, sat down in the lounge room and took a big sigh of relief,” King said.
“Whether he wins another race or not, my job is done.
“They said that horse would never have another race. I’ve got him back racing and I didn’t just get him racing I got him back winning.
“He’s always had the ability. He will never make the grade that we thought he was going to be. “We thought he was Saturday city class as a young horse.”
Farr was there to watch his horse win and said it was one of the most exciting maiden wins he has ever had.
“It’s been a long time coming, I’m pretty stoked,” he said. Do you have a racing story? Contact tom.boswell@news.com.au