OUR Wednesday Whinge this week – and that of many other industry stakeholders – is for the Government to provide some overdue clarity on the future of the Deagon Racecourse.
There is no room for sentimentality these days. It’s time for the Racing Minister to instruct Racing Queensland to sell Deagon. The hundreds of millions in proceeds could be used for much-needed infrastructure projects throughout the State.
Established in the early 1880s as Sandgate was peaking as Brisbane’s premier seaside resort, Deagon Racecourse was expected to become a successful racing venue. Despite some success, by the turn of the 20th century the racecourse was sold by the mortgagee. During the 1920s and ’30s the racecourse became a regular venue for motorcycle races as well as various community events. Deagon racecourse was refurbished and reopened for horse racing in 1938. Since the 1980s the racecourse has been used as a racehorse training facility. In recent years there have been occasional once a year race meetings which no longer seem to occur.
Statistics show that there are less than a dozen trainers domiciled in Deagon nowadays and about 30 external stables use the track when barrier trials are held. The Apprentice School that once existed there has been moved to the Gold Coast. Deagon is the HQ’s of Racing Queensland but it would be better placed in the racing hub of Hendra, perhaps at Eagle Farm or Doomben.
LGHR understands the sale of Deagon was mooted many years ago when the complex was owned by the Brisbane Turf Club but that idea fell through. The real estate value would be many more tens of millions these days.
When the Government released The Next Lap infrastructure report in the wake of the Racing Review conducted by now RQ Chairman Matt McGrath it flagged giving ‘careful consideration’ to the sale of the 34-hectare Racecourse complex. The plan also outlined moving RQ HQ’s from Deagon to Albion Park.
The local State MP for Sandgate, Bisma Asif, under pressure from those with stabling interests and major real estate at Deagon, publically opposed an outright sale, raising concerns over a lack of community consultation, potential privatization, local job losses (the site was said to support over 200 jobs), and flooding risks if the racecourse was built out for housing or heavy commercial use.
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No definitive, final decision to replace the site entirely with a major shopping centre has been approved. Local representatives have continued to pressure the Government for transparency on whether the land will be carved up for commercial use, high-density residential housing, or kept for community sport.
Before the outright sale of the land was considered, Racing Queensland proposed a multi-million dollar master plan to revitalize the facility. Rather than replacing the track entirely, that proposal intended to retain its core identity as an “equine precinct” while adding commercial operations. Envisioned secondary uses included:
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Retail and Dining: Small-scale commercial buildings fronting Board Street, including cafes, a dessert bar, and spaces for farmers’ markets.
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Entertainment & Accommodation: Mixed-use community amenities alongside short-stay accommodation for apprentice jockeys and students (no point that happening any more).
TOO much time has been spent procrastinating on this issue. Let’s stop kicking the political football around. Mary Collyer has completed her report for Racing Minister Tim Mander on a number of recommendations of the Racing Review. The industry is still awaiting details of that.
There is opposition within the industry and from the racegoing public for the entire cost of a new Members’ Stand at Eagle Farm to be totally financed by the Government while it remains for use by a privileged few thousand and not everyday families who still go to the races.
The gallops fraternity doesn’t want to see more millions poured into the Albion Park harness facility believing crowds that attend that code in Brisbane are too small to justify big spending. It would need to be multi-purpose.
But ‘harness King’ Kevin Seymour has had a long-time dream for the future development of the ‘old Creek’ and LGHR understands has continued consultation with the Government on this issue.
His plan involves a combined harness, sport and commercial development, the latter would be privately financed with an on-going return to the industry. It seems to have plenty of merit.
Come on Minister Mander. It’s time for the Government to instruct Racing Queensland to proceed with the sale of Deagon.
Those trainers in the area would have to take their horses elsewhere for trackwork. Whether they would still be able to maintain stabling in the area is an issue for Government or Council. It’s not as though their real estate interests would drop in value if this overdue decision was made.
TIME FOR RACING QUEENSLAND TO ESTABLISH A LINK WITH KOREA
OUR now Gold Coast contributor, GREG BLANCHARD, has a history at Deagon. It would be interesting to hear his thoughts on the issue. In the meantime, here is his latest contribution:
‘FOR over a decade I’ve spoken of the need to get overseas kids into our Apprentice School in Queensland.
Korea on Sunday opened a new track at Yeongcheon. Racing in that country is growing and I firmly believe Queensland should establish a relationship with these Asian countries like I’ve been suggesting for years.
We must be proactive as other countries will soon see the opportunity with Korea.’
THOSE ‘QUADDY KILLERS’ ARE A NIGHTMARE FOR THE PUNTERS
WE had a couple of emails from punters highlight how hard it is to back the four winners of a Quadrella.
Just look back at Saturday.
Many punters were blown out of the water at Rosehill when Savvy Hallie produced a last to first form reversal in the opening leg to win the Sheraco Stakes at $20.
The defeat of Oliveanotherday, the $1.6 favorite in the first leg at Flemington blew many out of the water who had taken the ‘hot pot’ one-out in their Quadrella.
Stanislaus at $21 was the ‘Quaddy killer’ in the opening leg at Doomben and at Morphettville the $14 winner of sixth race made it tough for most Quaddy punters.
So what’s the answer: Either take a Lotto ticker instead or start throwing into your Quaddy numbers horses you don’t think can win. Because if the favorites all win punters are flat out covering their outlay.
