Eagle Farm racing to resume for Oaks meeting on June 4
Racing will resume at Eagle Farm for the Queensland Oaks meeting on June 4 after officials today decided against a midweek test meeting on May 11.
Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Racing Club said the decision was taken as a precaution to ensure the redeveloped Eagle Farm would be in the best condition for three Group 1 meetings in June.
The Oaks card will be followed by the AAMI Stradbroke meeting on June 11 and the Tattersall’s Tiara program two weeks later.
Track contractors Evergreen Turf, who have been responsible for the much lauded racing surface at Pakenham in Victoria, said the track would benefit from the additional growing time.
“The track is progressing well but there is one section that will benefit from more time after an extremely testing summer,” said BRC Chief Executive Officer Dave Whimpey.
“We galloped horses again on Wednesday and we were very pleased with the progress of the track since Buffering galloped in early March. The surface has nearly reached full maturity across most of the course proper.
“But there is one area from about the 300 metres to the end of the straight – closer to the rail – that is taking longer to bounce back from the summer.
“Our principal consultants advised us that we could race on May 11 but they told us it would be wiser to forego a midweek meeting to ensure the track was in the best condition for three Group 1 meetings in June.
“We’ll conduct barrier trials on the track in late May and we’ll be ready for the return to this historic track in June.”
The redevelopment commenced in January 2015 and the state’s premier race track has undergone a $22 million upgrade with more than $10 million of that invested in the reconstruction of the tracks.
“The Eagle Farm Racecourse is recognised nationally as Queensland’s premier racing facility and I commend BRC Chairman Neville Bell and CEO Dave Whimpey for their big-picture decision to delay the return to racing,” said Racing Queensland Acting CEO Sam Adams.
“Everyone was looking forward to the mid-week reopening of the track on May 11, however, the Queensland racing industry and BRC has made a very significant investment in Eagle Farm and we are committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect that investment and ensure the long-term reputation of the Eagle Farm track.”
More than just an upgrade, the Eagle Farm project has been a massive infrastructure venture and is the first major upgrade to the track in 149 years of racing.
The reconstruction of the track has included the construction of vehicle and pedestrian tunnels, state of the art drainage and irrigation systems, re-cambering, new fencing and running rails. Contractors have laid more than 90,000 square metres of grass, around 20,000 metres of drainage pipe and brought in almost 70,000 cubic metres of sand.
In addition to the work on the track, the BRC has invested significantly in enhancing the on-course facilities for customers including upgraded restaurants and bars as well as the installation of the biggest screen in the southern hemisphere.
The next phase of the BRC’s Master Plan will see the construction of more than 400 infield stables, making way for the club’s on-course residential apartment precinct.
