Eagle Farm launch on track

RACING Queensland remains confident Eagle Farm racecourse will be ready for next year’s winter carnival despite continuing worries about delays in starting reconstruction work.

Eagle Farm was shut in late May when it became apparent the surface was unsuitable for Group 1 racing. RQ commissioned a survey headed by Victoria Racing Club chief executive Dale Monteith who found major reconstruction work was necessary.

The course proper has not been used for trackwork, trials or racing since May. RQ has reiterated the date for a resumption remained April 2018.

The governing body also announced the primary contractor tender had been awarded to FKG Group, one of the largest privately owned civil contractors in Queensland.

Work is expected to start this week although heavy rain is predicted to continue in southeast Queensland.

The contractor will remove sections of the existing top layer of the Eagle Farm track before blending the sand and loam and laying the new turf.

A FUNDRAISER to help Brisbane trainer Darren Bell who has been forced out of the sport after his stable was shut down because of a strangles case, has reached $70,000.

Last month, Bell announced he was shutting his stables due to rising debts and the impact on his mental health.

RQ had shut down his business for four months this year when he reported two of his horses had strangles, a usually non-fatal respiratory disease.

His fellow trainers were outraged because trainers in Sydney and Melbourne had been fined but allowed to continue training after not reporting cases of strangles.

The Australian Trainers Association Queensland branch began a fund to help Bell.

ATA Queensland secretary Cameron Partington said RQ had indicated it would donate $15,000 to the fund.

He said the trainers had been in negotiations with RQ since early in the year to get a clear policy on compensation and plans if other trainers had strangles cases.