‘They despise racing’: Brisbane Racing Club tees off on green groups over affordable housing proposal

The Brisbane Racing Club has returned serve to the Greens and sections of the media who have proposed closing down Eagle Farm to turn it into affordable housing.

Jonathan Sriranganathan is the Greens’ Brisbane Lord Mayor candidate. Picture: Richard Walker

A Brisbane race club has teed off on green groups pushing for tracks to be sold off for affordable housing, saying they can’t afford to give an inch to anti-racing ideologies.

In a letter to members, Brisbane Racing Club chief executive Tony Partridge slammed Greens councillor and Brisbane Lord Mayor candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan after he proposed to turn Eagle Farm into 4000 apartments and green space as part of his election pitch.

Partridge also returned serve to sections of the media who questioned why Brisbane needed two racetracks, saying “they want to shut our sport down”.

“Let’s be frank about these comments – the Greens despise horse racing,” Partridge wrote.

“They are aided by some media outlets pitching for business from readers who share the Greens’ views.

“The Greens and these media outlets like to tell other people what to do with their property and with their leisure time. It’s their standard approach to public policy.”

Partridge said he was compelled to speak out to assure racing stakeholders and BRC members of their stance on the matter.

Tony Partridge said he was compelled to talk out against the Greens. Picture: AAP

• ‘He means a lot to us': Zoustyle returns a winner

“The Greens and their media supporters who want to shut down Eagle Farm and Doomben don’t understand racing,” he said.

“They can’t comprehend why Brisbane has two racetracks next to each other.

“The reason is simple – they create a precinct that enables the sport’s hundreds of daily participants to move between the courses easily and safely.

“Employees can live close to their place of employment. Resources can be shared between the courses.

“The two courses can withstand the workload that one course can’t handle — Brisbane has two metropolitan courses while Sydney and Melbourne each have four.”

A historic aerial image of Eagle Farm and Doomben (left) back in 2004. Picture: David Sproule

• Triumphant Rodd returns to Stakes success

Partridge said it was important for the racing industry to stand up to Green groups and be proud of their history in order to hold their ground.

“It’s not the job of sporting organisations to give up their traditions because others don’t approve of them,” he said.

“We are proud of the contribution, history and the future of Eagle Farm and Doomben.

“The BRC is not-for-profit and conducts 80 race meetings a year that generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the State Government.

“BRC and racing enjoy the support of both major political parties, continuing Government support for over 165 years.”

Under their plans, the Greens say they would house 10,000 people in publicly-owned rent-capped homes at Eagle Farm.