Lighting way to international market
NIGHT racing has become a game-changer for the Gold Coast Turf Club which will use the installation of lights to hit an international market.
The club will look to fasttrack the installation of lights in order to push back the timeslot of its showpiece $10 million Magic Millions race day that is held in the heat of January each year.
Racing Queensland has filed a development application for the light poles.
The Gold Coast club predicts Racing Queensland will schedule more than 10 meetings at the Aquis Park course on Friday nights each season.
The new timeslot would allow the club to coincide its races with meetings in Singapore and Hong Kong.
“They will be targeted into overseas markets and when they race Moonee Valley,” Gold Coast chairman Brett Cook said.
“We just need to get the balance right between racing Friday nights and Saturdays.”
Gold Coast officials believe night racing will also open up a host of international opportunities with Asian horse owners and strengthen ties to Asian businesses who invest heavily in Gold Coast projects and tourism.
The Gold Coast will become the third track to host night racing in Queensland, along with the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.