Gold Coast Turf Club submit plans to undergo $4 million revamp of Traintech

THE Gold Coast Turf Club is on the cusp of launching a $4 million development of its training and stable facility designed to nearly triple the presence of horses and future proof racing in the city.

Jockey Jeff Lloyd rides Whypeeo to win race 7, the BGW Group of Companies QTIS Three-Years-Old Handicap during the CNW Raceday at Aquis Park in the Gold Coast. Photo: Albert Perez, AAP.

THE Gold Coast Turf Club is on the cusp of launching a $4 million development of its training and stable facility designed to nearly triple the presence of horses and future proof racing in the city.

The club expects the Gold Coast City Council to sign off on its Traintech proposal in weeks as they look to make the facility a “one stop shop” for trainers.

“It’s about future proofing racing on the Gold Coast that’s about having a few things in line which that underpins the financial returns for the business,” Turf Club CEO Steve Lines said.

“At the end of the day we are a racing community and we have an obligation to everyone that sits in that community for not only today and tomorrow but the medium and long term.”

Proposed upgrade of Gold Coast Turf Club's Traintech facility. Photo: Supplied.

GCTC’s three-year plan to increase the stables at Traintech from 130-300 and upgrade the walkers, sand rolls, equine pool and walking tracks.

It will also offer a turnkey deal to trainers who will have access to food, a vet, tooth doctor, farrier, shavings and waste management as part of their racing fees.

The biggest threat facing the club is the current pressure on real estate surrounding the Bundall base with developers continually buying land and stables from local trainers.

Magic Millions-winning trainer Toby Edmonds’ property is currently up for sale while Bryan Guy’s stable is under offer.

“It’s a sign of the times because this land around us is quite premium,” Lines said.

Gold Coast turf club CEO Steve Lines. Photo: John Gass.

“If these pressures are going to go on it will hurt the horse numbers and we can’t afford to that have in the long term.”

Gold Coast Turf Club’s challenge in recent years has been their steep racing fees that have come from a limited volume of trainers but they are currently cheaper than Brisbane for the first time.

Lines has declared he will reduce the fees further on the back of the Traintech development that they expect to bring in around $1 million per year in financial return.

The club has 12 years to run on its current lease at Traintech but expects to significantly reduce the cost — currently at $170,000 per year — in the new 50-year term.

Training icon Chris Waller recently opened a stable on the Gold Coast and the club is already attracting interest from other big names from around the country on the back of the development plans.