Saddle up for whole new era
THE Gold Coast Turf Club is on the cusp of launching the biggest redevelopment in its history.
The club is working with Racing Queensland on a submission for funding from the Queensland Government.
The Bulletin understands the Gold Coast club has asked for about $39 million but Racing Queensland has indicated a $28 million grant is more likely. The Government is yet to sign off on any funding.
Racing Queensland nominated work at the Gold Coast Turf Club as a priority project when it released its infrastructure plan last year.
The plan provides a total of $120 million for infrastructure projects in Queensland delivered through the Racing Infrastructure Fund.
Possible works identified at the Gold Coast include the remediation of the course proper, lights for night racing, a tunnel to allow horse movement and car parking on the infield and training tracks.
Racing Queensland acting CEO Simon Stout said the Gold Coast club had an exciting future and was an important racing venue. “While the details for the development are still to be finalised we are pleased to be working with the club to realise the great potential at the venue,” he said.
Gold Coast officials believe the improved facilities will take the track to an international standard and position it to become the third metropolitan venue in the state outside of Eagle Farm and Doomben.
Club chairman Brett Cook said the developments would be beneficial to the entire Queensland racing industry that has been heavily scrutinised due to the handling of the Eagle Farm track upgrade.
“The major one is the increase in betting turnover,” Cook said. “The Sunshine Coast is going good, Eagle Farm will be fixed and ours will be state of the art.
“There will be a lot of betting confidence that will come back in to the industry when they are all complete.”
The club’s four training tracks will be replaced by a 17m wide synthetic track, similar to those at Warwick Farm and Pakenham, and a 20m wide turf training track.
The upgrades could be completed within two years once Treasury supplies the money.