Tony Gollan joins push to change early starts for trainers and their staff

TONY Gollan has joined the chorus of calls for a change to early morning starts as Eagle Farm trainers face yet another hurdle in the Eagle Farm construction zone.

Trainers have been told the training tracks at Eagle Farm will be off limits after 6.30am. Picture: Darren England

TONY Gollan has joined the chorus of calls for a change to early morning starts as Eagle Farm trainers face yet another hurdle in the Eagle Farm construction zone.

Eagle Farm trainers were told last week the deadline for final use of the training tracks would be moved forward to 6.30am.

The time issue comes as a result of Mirvac starting work on the apartment buildings on Lancaster Road.

The announcement came at the same time a national debate is brewing about training hours being moved to a more friendly time of the morning, as opposed to the 3am-4am starts most trainers operate under at the moment.

Gollan said a change in the national routine for training was a must for the industry.

“I understand it will affect some people who have another job to go to (after trackwork),” he said. “But on the whole, it will make for a better industry and a far better working environment.

“This is an important step in the future of racing. The work hours we have at the moment are not practical. I would love to see a national approach to this.

“It would allow trainers and their staff to enjoy a much better lifestyle.”

Eagle Farm trainers have endured a torrid time over the past two years since the construction of the new course proper and tunnels began.

In that time, they have had to switch to Doomben, train on a horseshoe layout, deal with a reduced number of training tracks and walk horses to the track on a gravel road that has multiplied the instances of horses suffering stone bruises.

Tony Gollan believes later times would allow trainers and staff to enjoy a better lifestyle. Picture: Noel Pascoe

BRC chief executive David Whimpey said the club was trying to enact “Plan B” so that the change in deadline could be put back 30-60 minutes.

“It is absolutely not ideal and we are in discussions with Mirvac on how we might push the time back,” Whimpey said. “These trainers have had such a torrid time and the board wants to help them.”

Leading trainer Rob Heathcote said trainers accepted the disruptions were for long-term gain, but given it had now dragged on for two years he would like to see a show of faith from the club.

“I understand both sides, but it would be nice if the club could come up with a compromise or even some compensation for what we have been through,” he said.

“If they had said back when this started it would be two years of disruption, there would have been a mutiny. It has cost trainers a lot more money to run their business.”

Originally published as Tony Gollan joins push to change early starts for trainers and their staff