Police probe after shock Magic Millions track poisoning

Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie called the Gold Coast Turf Club vandalism “disgraceful’’ and said he hoped police would “throw the book’’ at the alleged culprits.

The Gold Coast track has suffered a major setback at the 500m mark prior to the Magic Millions. Picture: Supplied

Police have launched a probe into the poisoning of the Gold Coast Turf Club track which forced the relocation of the first-ever Magic Millions twilight meeting to the Sunshine Coast.

It came as anti-racing activists condemned any deliberate attempt to sabotage the showpiece event but said the mystery incident appeared to be an accident - a theory rejected by turf club officials.

The Magic Millions Gold twilight meeting was dramatically evacuated to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday after officials discovered a large section of the Bundall track had been damaged by poison.

Magic Millions organisers and Racing Queensland officials made the shock call on Friday night after jockeys galloped on the track and voiced safety concerns.

The damaged section is about 250sq m at the home turn and officials are now racing the clock to have the track repaired in time for next Saturday’s main Magic Millions race day.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the vandalism was ‘disgraceful’. Picture: Liam Kidston

Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie called the turf vandalism “disgraceful’’ and said he hoped police would “throw the book’’ at the alleged culprits.

“It’s so unfortunate they have to move elements of (the Magic Millions) to the Sunshine Coast - and I’m a Sunshine Coast Member of Parliament,’’ he said.

“The Magic Millions is an amazing opportunity for tourism and for the locals, but also international visitors to come to the Gold Coast and spend up at our local businesses.

“This is actually really, really disheartening and disappointing and I hope the police find who was responsible for deliberately ruining the racetrack and hold them accountable and throw the book at them in a big way.’’

Police on Saturday said detectives were investigating the alleged “wilful damage”.

“Police were advised around 7pm (on Friday) concerning a large area of the racetrack sustaining damage. Investigations remain ongoing,” a police spokesperson said.

“Any witnesses or anyone with relevant vision is urged to contact police.”

Police have been doorknocking homes around the racecourse looking for CCTV footage and the damaged turf is being tested to try to determine what chemical may have been used.

The Gold Coast track has deteriorated further after Saturday’s meeting was called off on Friday. Picture: Supplied

Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses campaign director Elio Celotto said his group did not condone any illegal actions.

“We would certainly not be involved in anything like that because it just puts the horses at risk,” he said.

“If it was deliberate, it’s pretty extreme but it appears to me it wasn’t sabotage.”

Mr Celotto said the damaged section of track looked to be too neat to have been poisoned deliberately and joined racing insiders in speculating that it may have been accidental.

“It appears to me to be more of an unfortunate incident,” he said.

But Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook said the club had conducted its own investigation and he was “comfortable” the incident was not an accident.

He said police who were at the track on Saturday morning had uncovered certain “stuff” but declined to elaborate.

Mr Cook said photos circulating on social media did not reflect the true extent of the damage which was being assessed by turf experts from Sydney and Melbourne.

He said a special machine would be brought in on Monday to try to repair the damage and he was “80-90 per cent confident” next Saturday’s main Magic Millions race meeting would go ahead at the track.

“Obviously Racing Queensland has come on board very strongly and we’re pulling out all stops,” he said.

“As long as the weather gods smile on us, we should be OK to race.”

Mr Celotto said if the poisoning was deliberate, it highlighted the depth of anger felt by many people about horse racing, including holding races in 41-degree heat in Perth last week. He said protesters would rally outside the Bundall track on Magic Millions race day.

“No wonder people are outraged by the sport, which doesn’t really care about the horses - just about how much money they make off their backs,” he said.

Originally published as Police probe after shock Magic Millions track poisoning