Small field for Bernborough

SAFETY issues made it impossible to start more than 12 runners in the $175,000 Listed Bernborough Handicap at Toowoomba on Tuesday, according to Racing Queensland officials.

The Bernborough (1600m) is one of the oldest summer feature races in Queensland and is usually run at Doomben. But RQ switched it to Toowoomba to mark the reopening of a new grass surface at the Darling Downs racetrack.

The Bernborough field has been restricted to 12 runners with seven emergencies declared, leaving some trainers and owners far from happy.

RQ chief executive Darren Condon said when the meeting was programmed it had been hoped to have at least 14 runners.

However, stewards had inspected the track recently and had insisted that 12 runners was the maximum for safety reasons.