Grand old lady is back on track at Eagle Farm racecourse

GRAND old lady Pat Cook couldn’t wait to reacquaint herself with another grand old lady, the Eagle Farm racecourse.

Eagle Farm sprung to life yesterday with a series of racing trials to christen the new track.

GRAND old lady Pat Cook couldn’t wait to reacquaint herself with another grand old lady, the Eagle Farm racecourse.

After more than $22 million of renovations and lying dormant for almost two years, Eagle Farm sprung to life yesterday with a series of racing trials to christen the new track.

It still has some way to go before everything is cherry ripe for the return to racing on Queensland Oaks Day on June 4 and beyond.

The upgraded track received mixed reviews, with jockey Ryan Wiggins not happy about a section between the 800m and 600m mark.

Wiggins said the track in that area was too soft and horses were taking chunks of dirt out of the track.

However 90-year-old Cook, a former horse owner and breeder who has been coming to Eagle Farm since 1958, had no complaints.

The crowd of more than 500, far more than a usual Wednesday Brisbane meeting, also had a good time.

A small crowd tests out the new Eagle Farm facilities.

Upgraded betting facilities received rave reviews and so did the infield Big Screen — 44 metres wide and the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

“Life changes all the time and I think it is marvellous that Eagle Farm has moved with the times,’’ Cook said.

“I am very much looking forward to coming here and putting on my trifectas and quinellas and trying to back a few winners.’’

The younger crowd, including racegoer Alexandra Stewart also gave the track a tick of approval and are looking forward to the opening of a new American sports bar.

Despite some concerns over how the track will race, the general consensus was the 150-year-old Eagle Farm has received the spruce up it so desperately needed.

Stradbroke Handicap favourite Azkadellia was the star attraction yesterday as she had a spin around the new track, winning her heat easily.

Originally published as Grand old lady is back on track at Eagle Farm racecourse