Some of racing’s most powerful figures back infrastructure development at Gold Coast Turf Club
Australia’s leading trainer and one of the world’s best jockeys have urged the Queensland Government to finally deliver the promised funding that will enable the Gold Coast Turf Club to start its long-awaited multi-million dollar track upgrade.
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AUSTRALIA’S leading trainer and one of the world’s best jockeys have urged the Queensland Government to finally deliver the promised funding that will enable the Gold Coast Turf Club to start its long-awaited multi-million dollar track upgrade.
Trainer Chris Waller, the master horseman behind Winx’s domination, and top international jockey Zac Purton believe the club’s ambitious plans would help it set a new benchmark for horse welfare and entice leading horses, jockeys and trainers to the Coast.
Aquis Park, which is home to Queensland’s richest raceday in the form of the $10 million Magic Millions carnival, has not had a track upgrade in 30 years.
Club officials have been desperately waiting on the green light on a promised $33 million in infrastructure funding from the State Government through the Racing Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
The calls from some of the industry’s top identities comes as State Government leaders meet on the Gold Coast this weekend.
Racing Queensland submitted a business case for the major redevelopment of the track to the Queensland Government at the end of last year.
If the funding is approved, the GCTC plans to commence work immediately in an effort to potentially host the 2022 Magic Millions under lights on a new state-of-the-art racing surface.
The track upgrades would also assist the club in its two-pronged push to become Queensland’s second metropolitan racing club and also gain Group 1 status for the time-honoured A.D. Hollindale Stakes.
Purton, who served his apprenticeship on the Gold Coast before becoming one of the world’s best jockeys, said racing on modern day racetracks was vital for horse welfare and the future of the sport.
“It’s imperative we have good tracks for the welfare of our horses and the consistency of their performances,” said Purton.
Waller is one of several leading Sydney trainers who has either relocated or created a satellite stable on the Gold Coast in recent years and said a major track upgrade would enhance the quality of horses racing at Aquis Park on a regular basis.
“There are a lot of New South Wales and Victorian stables wanting to expand and invest in Queensland so spending some money on the Gold Coast would make it a hive of activity,” Waller said.
“This would in turn provide a boost for the economy and employment for an array of local providers including feed, vets, transport, farriers, staff, track riders and jockeys.
“Putting money into training tracks and racing surfaces, will ensure horses are racing and training on safer surfaces which is a very important part of a horse’s wellbeing.”
Vin Cox, the former boss of Magic Millions and now the Managing Director of powerful racing and breeding operation in Godolphin, said the planned track upgrades would provide a huge boost to the Gold Coast economy and for the racing product at Aquis Park.
“The Gold Coast Turf Club is an integral part of the social, economic and tourist sectors of the Gold Coast, once the long overdue planned upgrades have been carried out on the precinct all these sectors will go to another level,” said Cox.
“Whether increased attention to animal welfare or an improved experience for the participant, the effect will bring a better quality racing product and therefore greater opportunity for the club, Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast generally.”
GOLD COAST RACING IDENTITIES HAVE THEIR SAY:
Aquis CEO Shane McGrath:
“As one of the major investors in the thoroughbred industry in Australia and naming rights partner of the GCTC, Aquis supports the club’s continued drive to become a world class facility,” McGrath said.
“The financial support from the State Government’s RIF (Racing Infrastructure Fund) for the planned infrastructure upgrades will ensure it becomes an international destination for racing enthusiasts.
“Aquis prides itself on the importance placed on the welfare of its thoroughbreds and the new and improved training facilities planned for the GCTC are critical to ensure that welfare of its horses it paramount.”
Leading Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds:
“We hold a $10 million raceday here every year and we desperately need a world class facility to run that race meeting on, not a provincial track,” Edmonds said.
“For us as a business, this project has been in the pipeline since 2011 and we have been promised it through three different Governments, so the time is right.
“It really would attract a better quality of horse and clients knowing the racing and training facility is going to be world class like a Flemington or a Randwick.”
Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa:
“We’re in the prime location here on the Gold Coast and the envy of other interstate trainers, the only missing piece of the puzzle is a world class facility,” Costa said.
“You need the best facilities to produce the best product. These plans would help deliver that and would attract even more owners, trainers and visitors to the Gold Coast.”
Nine-time Gold Coast jockeys premiership-winner Dan Griffin:
“The Gold Coast Turf Club is where the surf meets the turf. It would be nice if we could get with the times and turn it into a state-of-the-art metropolitan track that it deserves to be.”
GCTC Chairman Brett Cook welcomed the support from respected industry figures and declared “now is the time” for the club to be able to deliver on long promised infrastructure upgrades.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for these upgrades which are essential to the ongoing sustainability of racing on the Gold Coast.”
Proposed timeline for GCTC infrastructure upgrades:
July 2020 – commence works on synthetic track
December 2020 – Synthetic track completed for training and racing
9 – 16 January 2021 – Magic Millions Carnival
18 January 2021 – commence works on Course Proper, lights and tunnel
September 2021 – Course Proper completed
January 2022 – Magic Millions (potentially under lights)
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