Gold Coast Turf Club begins work on $63m track and facility upgrades

It has been touted as a development that will make the Coast the envy of the southern hemisphere, but the budget has been blown out by tens of millions. WHAT CAUSED IT

Work has officially begun on the Gold Coast’s “world class” racing precinct redevelopment, that will now cost a whopping $63m on the back of rising construction costs.

That is nearly double the original $33m the Queensland government had committed to the project, outside of the $5m contributed by the Gold Coast Turf Club.

Stage 1 of the project has begun with the track and infrastructure upgrade that will eventually make the Glitter Strip the “premier night racing centre of the southern hemisphere”.

The grass on the training track has been removed as preparations begin on the installation of a new synthetic all-weather Polytrack.

Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson (left) and Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

By the end of the project the club will boast a new main racecourse, new training tracks, the Polytrack, a tunnel to transport horses to the infield and lights to enable the club to host the 2024 Magic Millions at night.

“This is a critical milestone in a flagship infrastructure project for a $1.9bn industry,” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.

“What will be delivered is a world class racing facility under lights. Night racing will be beamed around the world and it will be a metropolitan standard track that will be the rival and envy of so many.”

Gold Coast Turf Club redevelopment. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The increased standard of the track will mean Gold Coast bosses will push to double the number of metropolitan meetings they host from six to 12 while also taking on metropolitan meetings on a Friday night that can be broadcast to the likes of Hong Kong.

The hope of Gold Coast officials is to have the Friday night meetings boast the same prizemoney as other Saturday metropolitan meetings where races carry in excess of $70,000.

“Given our goal is to make it the premier night racing centre of the southern hemisphere it follows that we will be looking to expand prizemoney substantially,” Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson said.

Gold Coast Turf Club redevelopment. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“These things come in stages. Over time we would be aiming to have Saturday metropolitan type-money for the odd-special race and with some Group races as well.”

Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook said the city would boast the state’s best track by the end of the development and believed they could host Friday and Saturday meetings back-to-back.

An artist impression of Gold Coast Turf Club night racing.

“I want to use the Singapore model where they race on Friday night and have three on the inside (Polytrack) and three on the grass then vice-versa on Saturday,” Cook said.

The 550 horses currently in work at the Gold Coast will use a temporary track being made on the outside of the course proper along with a second training track adjacent to the club during construction.

TIMELINE OF TURF CLUB DEVELOPMENT:

Stage 1: June 2022 – December 2022

● Installation of new 1700m synthetic Polytrack

● Installation of new Ambulance Track

●Installation of new irrigation for Polytrack

● Ancillary works (fibre optics & timing coms)

● Installation of footings for light towers

Construction works on portion of the tunnel underneath Polytrack

Stage 2: February 2023 – December 2023

● Refurbishment of Course Proper

● Retain Kikuyu grass and profile

● Installation of new irrigation

● Installation of drainage (slit drainage and sand grooving)

● Removal of crown in the home straight

● Completion of lighting for night racing

● Constructions works on portion of the tunnel underneath Course Proper

Stage 3: July 2023 – December 2023

● Realignment of B Grass and Plough training tracks

● Installation of irrigation for both B Grass and Plough training tracks

● Construction works on portion of
the tunnel underneath B Grass and
Plough