Eagle Farm Racecourse returns to racing

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

 

We’ve had some positive news on the Eagle Farm track as we prepare for a return to racing.

Racing Queensland’s track consultant Mick Goodie says Eagle Farm will be ready for racing on Saturday 22nd December. We’re very pleased to hear that news as we prepare for the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, which officially begins with Saturday’s running of the Listed Radio TAB Keith Noud Quality Handicap at Doomben.

During a radio interview yesterday, Mick Goodie said the first gallops on the Eagle Farm surface would occur on 4th December. “I’ve got no qualms at all. I’m very confident going forward,” Goodie said during the interview. “We’re looking to have a few gallops on the 4th of December – probably only four or so horses. “We’ll trial the next week with jumpouts from the 1600m and then one from the 1000m. “We’ll hopefully return to racing on the 22nd of December.”

Mick Goodie said the warmer weather had improved the back straight, which was the last section of the track to be laid in April. “It’s really come ahead in the last few weeks. In another four weeks, it will be pretty close to the same all across,” he said. “From the old crossing at the 1900m around up the straight and around to the 1100m, the track’s like a bowling green. It’s absolutely beautiful. “It’s tough as, and the backside is about 20 per cent behind it but, each day, it’s catching up.”

We’re encouraged by this news and we thank Mick and the BRC team, including Matt Rudolph, Peter Birch and Jim Roberts, for their continued efforts with this track.

We’ll wait for official confirmation from Racing Queensland on the return date at Eagle Farm but we’re hopeful of Christmas racing on this historic track. Doomben is currently slated to host each Saturday metropolitan meeting in December.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Summer Carnival.

Yours sincerely,


Neville Bell
Chairman