Queensland racing officials are confident Eagle Farm track will come good

Queensland racing officials are pinning their hopes on the beleaguered Eagle Farm surface following the same profile as the Townsville track, which took “five years to fully mature”, a parliamentary estimates inquiry has heard.

Fronting questions from the Opposition, Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace said she is “aware” of recent discussions over the firmness of the sand-based Eagle Firm surface but added she received “nothing but positive feedback” throughout the winter carnival from trainers, jockeys and owners.

“My understanding is the track for most of that (winter carnival) time … was graded as a Good 4 for most of the races at Eagle Farm,” she said, while also adding she had walked the track before the winter carnival.

“However I am aware of recent discussions regarding the track surface and management moving forward.

“I know Townsville went through a similar situation as this and after the third year their track came very good.”

Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace speaks during a Budget Estimates hearing at Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan PeledSource:News Corp Australia

It comes as it was revealed $13.7m had been spent on the surface across two rebuilds which span across seven years.

Eagle Farm was originally ripped up in August 2014 before returning to racing in June 2016. After botching the original rebuild, the track was again ripped up in May 2017 and returned to racing on the current surface in December 2018.

While there are growing calls to again rip the surface up and start again, Grace said the current Eagle Farm track was in better shape than its predecessors.

“I understand the performance of the track continues to create discussion within the industry, my understanding is the basis for improving are very good,” she said.

“The root structure is not like when we had to rip it up previously. There isn’t that fetching there that was there before which required a complete upheaval.

“We understand it is similar to Townsville and I have met with the Townsville people who said: ‘Minister, it does take a while longer’, we are nearly into that period of time post Stradbroke season where we are looking to see this grass firm up.”

Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell maintained the track is “safe” and that the “root system is the healthiest it has been”.

“Our Minister referred to the Townsville racetrack which is a very similar construction – a sand-based profile with the same couch grass – and that took five years to fully mature,” he said.

Originally published asRacing Minister has faith in Eagle Farm track

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