Gold Coast Turf Club to undergo massive $38 million transformation
Gold Coast Turf Club chief executive Steve Lines believes a $38 million transformation of the track will put the facility among the world’s elite and gives the venue the inside running to earn metropolitan status.
As first revealed in the Gold Coast Bulletin on Monday, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has approved a multi million dollar upgrade of the Turf Club that will pave the way for track to host night meetings.
Work is expected to begin on the track later this year with the Queensland Government to contribute $31.5 million on top of a $1.5 million commitment already provided while the Turf Club will put in a further $5 million.
It will see the Gold Coast Turf Club become a premier night racing venue that is hoped to be boosted by overseas interest and betting turnover.
The upgrade will also see the racing surfaces modernised with a new all-weather synthetic track, infield tunnel and state of the art lighting added to the venue.
“For us it puts us in a position to have a world-class facility,” Lines said.
“It will put us clearly as Queensland‘s number two club next to Brisbane and we are already getting in some top trainers into the facility like Lee Freedman, John Moore and many others.
“This upgrade will further enhance that.
“It‘s coming together and we are in a great financial position.
“At the end of the day we are a community club, we are a non-for-profit so whatever we make we put again and that‘s why we get a good return.”
Gold Coast racing received a major boost on Monday. Picture Glenn Hampson.Source:News Corp Australia
Work on the new synthetic track is hoped to begin in August this year and be completed before the Magic Millions raceday in January 2021.
Refurbishments of the remainder of the course are expected to begin after that and be finished with ‘two and a half to three years’.
When complete it’s expected the Gold Coast track can enhance it’s status to among the best in the country, with the club keen to increase its footprint on metropolitan racing.
“We do five metropolitan meetings at the moment and we see this as an opportunity to become the next metropolitan club in Queensland,” Lines said.
“We want to be hosting a minimum of 10 metropolitan Saturdays and metropolitan Friday nights so that is all part of the long term plan for the club.”
Shaquero won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2020. Picture: Trackside PhotographySource:The Courier-Mail
The upgrade will open the door for racing during the Magic Millions Carnival, the biggest meeting at the club, to be held under lights.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said night meetings during the carnival is something to look at ‘potentially in time’ however it would be considered following the completion of the project.
He expects the development to have a positive impacts across the industry.
“It‘s fantastic news for all participants in Queensland racing,” he said.
“We are right across the road so having a track of the highest standard possible is important and it give clients another reason to be there at Magic Millions, not just during sale times but all the time.”
Originally published asGreen light given for ‘world class’ night racing venue
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