Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt seeks ‘highest priority’ fix from Racing Queensland

It was meant to be the first race meeting for Charters Towers after years of renovation. So what happened?

Years gone past: Craiglea Alton wins in a 55 handicap race held at a previous Charters Towers Amateurs Races. The event could be at risk of cancellation if the track is not repaired by October. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt was left fuming by the cancellation of a Charters Towers race meeting after just the first race, following years of renovations which had led to loss of revenue for the jockey club.

The favourite horse to win in the 1000m Class B Handicap on Saturday was Smart Thinker, who failed to finish which led to jockeys expressing concern over the track’s conditions.

Ms Schmidt said she understood the track was hard underneath a layer of sand, which was providing no grip for the horses.

She is urging Racing Queensland to make renovation of the track its highest priority, considering previous work was overseen by the sporting body.

“Since the track refurbishment overseen by Racing Queensland commenced five years

ago on my estimate this community has missed out on millions of dollars to our local

economy,” Ms Schmidt said.

Charters Towers mayor Liz Schmidt at the Towers Jockey Club in 2018, where upcoming renovations were unveiled. (L-R) Jeffrey Dale, Liz Schmidt, Sally Kirkwood and Shaun Flanagan Picture: Supplied.

“This was a major setback for the beleaguered Towers Jockey Club.”

A Racing Queensland spokesman said the track had “presented well” when inspected four days before the race meet.

He said horses were slipping which suggested there was “excess moisture” on the track.

Years gone past: Charters Towers Amateurs Races 2020. TITLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORE BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 1200M - We'll Beat It crosses third. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“Given the limited meetings staged at the Towers Jockey Club in recent years, Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott, and members of his management team, will meet with the Club next week to ascertain what led to the meeting being abandoned,” he said.

“Upon doing so, Racing Queensland hopes to further understand what mitigations need to be implemented so there is certainty in programming for participants and a safe racing surface for horses and jockeys.”

Another race scheduled for the track in October by another club, the Charters Towers Amateur Race Club, could be in jeopardy.

The club’s president Karl McKellar said it had not been advised that it could not race yet and was waiting on the outcome at next week’s meeting.

“It’s going to be great when it’s done (the track) but it definitely hasn’t gone to plan, that’s quite obvious,” he said.

Originally published as Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt seeks ‘highest priority’ fix from Racing Queensland