QUEENSLAND Racing and the Magic Millions company have aimed a shotgun at the head of the Gold Coast Turf Club - one refusing to sign a deal and the other using that as a reason for not allocating the big race date next January.
According to a report by Daniel Mears in today's Gold Coast Bulletin, QRL chairman Bob Bentley wants the block-buster meeting to stay on the Gold Coast but industry insiders say his support hinges on the GCTC agreeing to redevelopment demands which 'amount to a takeover of the complex.'
Here is the Gold Coast Bulletin report courtesy of News Limited:THE Gold Coast Turf Club has not been allocated a race meeting on Magic Millions day, tentatively stripping the city of the lucrative $60 million carnival.
In a shock revelation, Queensland Racing Limited did not assign the January 15 Magic Millions meeting in its draft list of race dates for next season because of an impasse with the Gold Coast Turf Club board.Gold Coast Turf Club bosses last night revealed they had set the booming sales company a Friday deadline to agree to a new deal.
The move comes as Magic Millions bosses continue to meet the Victorian Government about proposals to run the event at Flemington as early as next year and relations between QRL and the turf club sour over a proposed redevelopment of the track.
QRL chairman Bob Bentley yesterday confirmed the date had not been assigned because Magic Millions had not agreed to a deal.
"The date has been held open at this stage," he said.
"There is no deal signed yet between Magic Millions and the Gold Coast Turf Club.
" ... we want it held at the Gold Coast -- most definitely.
"It's a Gold Coast event and that's where we want it to stay but we've got to work through the issues."
It is understood Magic Millions, which wants the turf club to accept a potential $75 million upgrade deal with Queensland Racing, are furious the club continues to hold out and not accept the terms.
The board last month voted not to enter any agreement unless they were the major equity holder of the site.
Turf club chairman Andrew Eggleston said the club had laid out a five-year deal to Magic Millions which had catered for potential redevelopment.
"We have contacted them this week and we do want an answer before Friday -- the ball is in their court," he said.
Queensland Racing Minister, and the Coast's only minister, Peter Lawlor, yesterday refused to enter into the issue, declaring it was not his role to be involved in race date allocations and commercial arrangements between turf clubs and Queensland Racing.
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