Jockeys back the push of trainers for urgent answers over the controversial Eagle Farm track

As Racing Queensland revealed it had no plans to transfer upcoming meetings away from Eagle Farm, jockeys threw their weight behind the trainers’ push to get urgent answers over the latest strife with the troubled track.

Eagle Farm has again become the biggest talking point in Queensland racing after The Courier-Mail revealed an industry crisis meeting had been called and some trainers had even insisted the track should be torn up for the third time.

The dramatic developments came as the Australian Trainers’ Association penned an email to RQ bosses saying track problems had reached flashpoint yet again despite RQ first shutting down the track in 2014.

With the Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival about to take centre stage, Eagle Farm doesn’t have another Saturday meeting until February 6 but hosts three consecutive Thursday meetings starting next week.

RQ says track assessments are done every week but there’s currently no intention to transfer any meetings away from Eagle Farm.

Meanwhile, Queensland Jockeys’ Association representative Glen Prentice said jockeys were after answers over the trouble-plagued track in the same way as trainers.

“Every jockey is supportive of the trainers on this issue and we back what they are saying, ” Prentice said.

“The main problem as far as the jockeys are concerned is the track is soft and loose on top but it is hard underneath.

“It has meant that some horses simply don’t have the confidence to let go on the track.

“They are scheduled to race at Eagle Farm next Thursday, so we will see how that goes.”

In the Trainers’ Association email to RQ, several trainers said the only way forward may be to tear up the track, at a massive cost to the industry, for the third time.

Several trainers also privately threatened to not race horses at Eagle Farm until the track was fixed.

The management and maintenance of the track is due to be handed back from RQ to the Brisbane Racing Club in April.

The meeting between RQ and stakeholders over the track issue has been scheduled for the week after Saturday week’s rich Magic Millions day.

Originally published asEagle Farm: Meetings won’t be transferred, jockeys weigh in

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