Tensions boil over at Doomben trials as jockeys stop riding to discuss Eagle Farm track issue

The situation regarding the Eagle Farm track closure escalated in a spicy morning at the Doomben trials where tensions flared between top trainers and jockeys.

Tensions flared between trainers and jockeys in a spicy morning at the Brisbane trials where jockeys staged their latest meeting about the Eagle Farm racing blackout.

Champion trainer Tony Gollan and 12-time Group 1 winner Rob Heathcote were irate that the closed-door meeting of jockeys was conducted during a trial session at Doomben and both voiced their anger and frustration.

Heathcote resigned from the Australian Trainers’ Association, feeling the body was not appropriately representing the rights of trainers over the issue.

• Eagle Farm crisis: Jockeys refuse to ride over construction issue

Eagle Farm has been out of action since July 20 when a Robbie Dolan fall caused jockeys to withdraw their services.

Jockeys claimed the construction of an apartment block on the point of the home turn was causing horses to shift out abruptly.

There is no return date set for racing at Eagle Farm, with Tuesday morning’s jockeys’ meeting discussing a series of potential remedies.

Gollan was livid that a trial morning was chosen for the latest meeting between jockeys, Racing Queensland boss Jason Scott and Queensland chief steward Josh Adams.

At one stage, Gollan had words with Jockeys’ Association stalwart Jim Byrne.

“For the jockeys to stop work during the trials today to carry on this meeting, it is just so exceptionally disappointing,” Gollan told Racenet.

“There is a bunch of (stable) staff here who have been up since all hours this morning and they have to go back to work in the afternoon.

“I just felt it showed very little care or understanding of the rest of the industry, we (trainers) are annoyed and disappointed at the situation which could have been handled outside of these hours.”

Construction of a new apartment building has stopped racing at Eagle Farm. Picture: News Corp Australia

Gollan said it was his understanding there may be a division in the jockeys’ ranks over whether to ride at Eagle Farm.

“To my knowledge some riders are more than happy to ride, and there’s a certain faction who either don’t want to ride the way things are or they feel like they haven’t had a voice or been heard.”

Queensland Jockeys’ Association boss Glen Prentice insisted the meeting of jockeys at the Doomben trials wasn’t disruptive to the trainers or the trial morning.

• Eagle Farm breakthrough as jockeys' dossier of incidents revealed

“At last Friday’s meeting with Racing Queensland, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, the Australian Trainers’ Association and the Queensland Jockeys’ Association and the Brisbane Racing Club, it was deemed that it would be best to get a large contingent of jockeys together at the trials,” Prentice said.

“The sixth trial was completed at 8.46am, we had the meeting and we were done by 9.03am and we were back.”

Robbie Dolan falls off Victory Command which led to the Eagle Farm July 20 meeting being abandoned. Picture: Sky Racing

The fix for the Eagle Farm building situation, which has caused jockeys’ to refuse to ride there, is far from straightforward.

One potential suggested remedy was changing the colour of a substance used in the construction of the building from black to blue.

But it is understood the CFMEU has advised this can only be done one floor per week, potentially taking four months to complete.

Scott said the “time for talking was done” over the Eagle Farm drama.

“The Jockeys’ Association asked Josh (Adams) and I to meet with them today, we laid out the options,” Scott said.

“The time for talking is done.

“Racing Queensland and QRIC would like in the next 48 hours a log from the jockeys explaining what they need us to provide and do for them for them to offer their services to ride at Eagle Farm again.”

Originally published as Tensions boil over at Doomben trials as jockeys stop riding to discuss Eagle Farm track issue