Clifford Park gets timely Easter present

RACING Queensland has given the Toowoomba Turf Club a much-wanted Easter gift.

BIG BOOST: Lizzy King (pictured with Ben Hall (left) and Anthony Collins) is pleased with the extra meeting. Picture: File

RACING: Clifford Park has managed to secure an additional meeting as racing in Queensland continues to forge ahead.

The new schedule released by Racing Queensland saw the track drop back to just one meeting a month, to be held on a Sunday.

This is part of the new zones enforced by RQ, restricting the entries to those in the Metro South West region (Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Warwick and Gatton).

Clifford Park has however received a boost, with a meeting confirmed in the evening slot for Easter Saturday (April 11).

Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Lizzy King said the additional meet was a huge boost for the club and racing in Toowoomba, as well as its participants.

“At this stage we’ve picked up another meeting” King said.

“Due to the regionalised area that Toowoomba is, there is a glut of horses, and with so many in work that need a run, the Toowoomba Turf Club has been lucky enough to pick up an extra meeting, which is brilliant.

“It was part of the plan when they came up with the zones. The TTC was always top of the list to take on an extra meeting.

“We didn’t expect it so soon, but we welcome it.”

It continues on a big week for the club after strong nominations for their first meet under the new conditions to take place this Sunday.

The eight-race card received 231 nominations, prompting RQ to split a number of events.

This eventuated in 169 acceptances for the new 11-race card, something that King said the club was ecstatic about.

“This shows that the demand is there,” she said.

“It shows the resilience of our sport and the stakeholders.

“They’re hanging in there and RQ is showing they have everyone’s back by giving people every opportunity to run, which is fantastic.

“The nominations were over 230 for Sunday’s meet, which is unheard of. It shows there are plenty of horses out there that want to run.

“Half to three quarters of every race are local names as well.”

As for their future meet on Easter Saturday, King said being run in the normal timeslot was a boost.

“Having the six-race card on Easter Saturday gives great continuity for our regular Toowoomba punters,” King said.

“I encourage everyone to get behind it and pop a couple of bucks on a Toowoomba race.

“It all helps to keep the sport safe and sound.”

The 11-race card on Sunday commences with the first at 12.05pm, with the last to jump at 6.18pm.

Only essential participants are allowed on course, with all races shown live on Sky Racing 1 and Sky Thoroughbred Central.

Full form for the Clifford Park races will appear in tomorrow’s edition of The Chronicle.

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