RACING Farm out Races go to Doomben

BRISBANE’S iconic Stradbroke Handicap has been shifted to Doomben next week as the local racing industry cops a $ 900,000 black eye.

Racing Queensland announced yesterday that Saturday’s Queensland Oaks meeting and next week’s Stradbroke Handicap will be shifted to Doomben after an outcry over the state of the new Eagle Farm track.

The Brisbane Racing Club, which runs the Stradbroke and Oaks meetings, did not want to move the meetings but was told to by Racing Queensland.

Racing Queensland chief executive Dr Eliot Forbes said Doomben offered a more suitable surface for Group One racing at this stage.

“The consensus from the feedback was that while Eagle Farm was safe for racing, it is an inferior racing surface,” Dr Forbes said.

The BRC did not want either meeting moved.

“We don’t agree with the decision,’’ Brisbane Racing Club chief executive Whimpey said.

“We maintained our position right to the death this morning that we should be racing at Eagle Farm.

“We believe and Racing Queensland concedes the track is safe. Racing Queensland believe that based on prominent trainers and industry consultation they have conducted that the track is unsuitable for Group Racing.’’

Whimpey estimated the cost of the shift to Doomben to be between $ 850,000$ 950,000 and it’s expected the club will seek compensation from Racing Queensland, insurers or both.

More than $ 10 million was spent on the new track but its drainage is so poor that it was rated “heavy’’ last Saturday despite Brisbane not experiencing any rain in the week leading up to the race.

Some horses pulled up distressed after labouring through the heavy going.

The move means the Stradbroke Handicap will be run over 1350m instead of 1400m. Dave