The Gold Coast Show saved for this year but it’s future could be decided by Racing Queensland

THE Gold Coast Show may have been thrown a lifeline by council but its ultimate future could lie in the hands of Racing Queensland.

The future of the Gold Coast Show, which has struggled since moving to the Gold Coast Turf Club, may lie with another racing arm.

THE Gold Coast Show may have been thrown a lifeline by council but its ultimate future could lie in the hands of Racing Queensland.

The show was handed a reprieve last week when council voted to cough up $100,000 to keep the event alive.

As the Gold Coast Sun reported on December 11, the 111-year-old event lost around $180,000 on last year’s event — more than double that expected — which came on the back of a $19,000 profit in the previous year and a loss of $82,000 in 2015.

The 2018 Show will be held at Broadwater Parklands on 31 August with free entry.

Mayor Tom Tate will write to the State Government seeking a matching contribution, given it was their decision to relocate the show from Parklands, to its present site at the GC Turf Club.

The 2018 show will be a smaller calendar of events, with plans to expand the show again in 2019, possibly incorporating Doug Jennings Park at The Spit.

The funding injection could not have come at a better time with show society spokeswoman Leanne Kellett saying if council had not of made the decision there wouldn’t have been a show this year.

However, she said while the move had secured the event’s short-term future the race was now on to secure a venue.

It comes as the Gold Coast Harness Racing Club is setting its sights on a possible venue in the city’s south.

It’s understood the club met with racing minister Sterling Hinchcliffe last week regarding funding and has met with council over the potential site.

A club spokesman said Mr Hinchcliffe emphasised that any venue that the state government provided funding for would need to be multi-use.

He said any development driven by the club would start with a training track in order to re-establish the code on the Gold Coast.

“The ball is largely in Racing Queensland’s court now,” he said.

Ms Kellett said the show society had been in discussion with state and local governments and with the Coast’s harness and greyhound racing clubs.

“We’re open to all possibilities and it’s absolutely a race to get our own venue,” she said.

“This year’s show a watered-down version. We will still have woodchopping and pig racing and fireworks so there will be a lot of country elements in that space.

“It’s a fantastic location and visually it will be fantastic and it will be free.

“Having the show at Broadwater Parklands this year will allow everyone to take a breath.”

She said next year the society would look at bringing back equestrian events at Doug Jennings Park on The Spit with a ferry service operating between the two venues,

“If we can make that work for year or two can continue relationships with all competitors and events and the show will still engage the community.”