GOLD Coast horse trainers have unanimously agreed to form a committee to oppose an unreasonable 122 per cent hike in the cost of training thoroughbreds at the Bundall track.

Daniel Meers reports in today’s Gold Coast Bulletin that the Coast's leading trainers and owners voted to have a four-person team represent them after the club's board imposed the increase which threatens to decimate their businesses.

The group will be effective from today and is expected to meet with the club board and request the price hike be put on hold until a decision is made over a potential upgrade of the out-dated track.

The move was a result of a one-hour meeting between owners and trainers which covered the issues in a robust but sensible debate.

At the meeting it was revealed training fees imposed at the Gold Coast were more than double that of Sydney's premier tracks Randwick and Rosehill.

Randwick costs $60 a month inclusive of swimming and grass gallops while the Gold Coast will charge $100, with significant charges imposed for trainers who use swimming pools and gallop their horses on the turf.

It was estimated it could potentially cost up to $300 a month, inclusive of add-ons, to train at the Gold Coast, compared to Eagle Farm's all inclusive $150 a month.

Trainers fear they will no longer be able to be commercial if the planned price hike continues and are disappointed they are being used as the 'meat in the sandwich' in the club's ongoing battle with QRL.

The committee will be headed by respected trainers Alan Bailey and Bevan Laming and will include owners representative Matthew Stapleton and Grant Morgan, who are both committee members of the Queensland Racehorse Owners Association.

The united front means the club board will need to give stronger reasoning for future plans.

STORY COURTESY OF NEWS LTD AND GOLD COAST BULLETIN