Grace Grace’s awkward moment at Stradbroke Handicap

An awkward moment has unfolded between the Brisbane Racing Club chairman Neville Bell and Racing Minister Grace Grace at Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap.

An awkward moment unfolded between Racing Minister Grace Grace and Brisbane Racing Club chairman Neville Bell at Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap after he publicly criticised the government’s refusal to renovate the decrepit grandstand they were in together.

Addressing VIP attendees including Minister Grace in the Guineas Room, Mr Bell switched the focus from horses and brought up the elephant in the room by saying the grandstand they were in was teetering on the brink of collapse and might not be functional next season.

Tensions peaked when, during Mr Bell’s speech to VIP attendees including Minister Grace in the Guineas Room, a loud unexplained bang resonated from the depths of the six-decade-old structure.

“I didn’t set that up,” he quipped to Grace from the podium. “But it was good timing!”

Zac Lloyd breaks through for his maiden Group 1 aboard Stefi Magnetica in the Stradbroke Handicap for trainer Bjorn Baker. The grandstand is pictured in the background. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

The BRC has estimated the cost of renovating or rebuilding the grandstand at $80 million.

BRC chief executive Tony Partridge said the grandstand was fast approaching its end of life and speculated the chairman used the unique opportunity to bring up the funding elephant in the room. “The chairman mentioned in his speech this may be the last time we’re in this room as the grandstand may need to be closed before next Stradbroke Season,” he said.

“Built 70 years ago, the grandstand is nearing the end of its useful life. BRC has been in negotiations with the government for two years.”

Gallery: The Star Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm

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Minister Grace dismissed the cringe exchange as simple jest, and said the government had not allocated specific money for the grandstand due to having other funding priorities.

“We’re certainly working with BRC and Racing Queensland so we can start the renovations, but there is a staged approach,” she said.

“It will likely be two years or so of renovations.”

A Crowd in the grandstand at Eagle Farm in 1936. Picture: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Asked why Mr Bell might take a jab at the government in his speech while he was in the crowd, Ms Grace said it was part of a running joke between the pair.

“It was funny,” she said.

“As he was speaking the aircon made a funny sound so it was like, what button did he push to make that happen!”

Today’s race event marked the conclusion of The Star Stradbroke Season, with 10,000 racing enthusiasts flocking to the iconic Eagle Farm Racecourse charged on excitement and high stakes.

The $3 million Star Stradbroke Handicap, a Group 1 sprint, was the highlight of the race card, attracting considerable attention from punters and racing aficionados alike.