Gold Coast Turf Club already suffer huge losses due to impact of COVID-19

The Gold Coast Turf Club has already lost over $500,000 and been forced to stand down staff as they look to use new racing zones put in place across the state to survive.

THE Gold Coast Turf Club has already lost over $500,000 and been forced to stand down staff as they look to use new racing zones put in place across the state to survive.

GCTC CEO Steve Lines revealed they had been forced to stand down around 20 people, nearly the entire office staff, and over 300 casuals after just one patron-free race meeting while they have lost $500,000 in corporate cancellations and loss of sponsors.

“It’s tough but the loss would be five-fold that amount if we stopped racing altogether,” Lines, who has taken a 20 per cent pay cut, said.

Jockey Jon Grisedale rode Tiomo to victory in the Class 1 Handicap (1800m) at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Picture credit: Greg Irvine, Magic Millions.

“Some people have felt a lot of pain by the loss of their income and jobs but we’re doing our best to help everyone as best we can.”

Lines said it placed even more importance on Racing Queensland’s new designated racing regions that have been put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the industry.

Gold Coast have been put into a ‘Metro South’ zone that will also included Ipswich and Toowoomba, with provisions put in place to restrict trainers to racing in one zone while limiting the movement of jockeys as well.

Aquis Park Turf Club CEO Steve Lines ( left ) and Racing Manager Ian Brown at The Gold Coast Turf Club. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

Gold Coast will race on Fridays going forward, and on Thursday, April 9, the week of Easter.

It’s understood some races on the Gold Coast, a track used for largely provincial racing, will carry greater prizemoney so trainers limited to the zone can access close to the metropolitan standard of prizemoney.

“Keeping racing will mean keeping jobs,” Lines said.

“Keeping jobs is paramount as much at the moment. Keeping horses healthy and in work is also paramount.

“There will be cynics out there but it’s not a contact sport and we have animal welfare there to make sure we look after the horses.

“It may change in two weeks time and they may say stop but we are keeping people in work and the welfare of the animal at heart and trying to keep the wheels of the industry cranking over across the entire state.”

Gold Coast race meeting scheduled for Friday, April 3:

Open Handicap, 1200m, of $65,000

Benchmark 80 Handicap, 1800m, of $50,000

Class 6 Handicap, 1400m, of $50,000

Benchmark 72 Handicap 1400m, of $35,000

Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1100m, of $35,000

3YO Handicap, 1800m, of $65,000 + applicable QTIS bonuses

3YO Maiden Handicap, 1400m, of $27,500 + applicable QTIS bonuses

2YO Handicap, 1100m, of $65,000 + applicable QTIS bonuses

Maiden Plate (Set Weights), 1200m, of $27,500

Nominations Close: Monday 30th March at 11am

Weights Declared: Tuesday 31st March

Acceptances Close: Wednesday 1st April at 9am