Crisis meeting over Eagle Farm track now next week

A pivotal meeting between key industry stakeholders over the future of the troubled Eagle Farm track has been pushed back a week.

Representatives of trainers and jockeys are poised to meet with Racing Queensland and Brisbane Racing Club bosses to voice their concerns and work out the next step for the controversial surface.

There are growing demands for the track to be ripped up again, for the third time, with the “overwhelming majority” of trainers pitching for that option.

The Australian Trainers’ Association’s Queensland management has asked trainers to vote on the solution going forward ahead of another industry crisis meeting involving racing officials.

That meeting had been scheduled for Thursday but it is now likely be held on Thursday next week so Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell and other key industry movers and shakers can attend.

In a radio interview on Monday, Parnell did not rule out opting to tear up the track again but said there was no quick fix and any track replacement process would take at least a year.

It is understood racing officials have made significant progress on the potential to procure new grass, should the favoured “rip it up” option be agreed on.

There have been many complaints over the Eagle Farm track since it was first shut for renovations in 2014 but the latest are that it is simply too hard.

Participants have now lost confidence and faith in racing there.

The final metropolitan meeting of the racing season in Queensland is slated for Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Originally published asNew date for Eagle Farm crisis meeting

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