The Brisbane Race Club has provided a look into the future, posting a profit for last season largely because of non-racing activities.
The BRC announced a $260,000 profit after it had originally budgeted for a $390,000 loss because of the closure of its main track at Eagle Farm for redevelopment.
Chairman Neville Bell said the club had lost 40 race meetings with Eagle Farm closed for longer than expected.
Racing stopped at the track in August 2014 and is not scheduled to begin again until next May.
“It was a year unlike any other for us because as well as Eagle Farm closing we also had a new administration at Racing Queensland and a new state government,” Bell said.
“But non-racing revenue has helped us through the year.”
He said the BRC had diversified and had received $1.8 million from non-racing ventures such as its licensed club Gallopers, the Eagle Farm markets and social functions.
It meant the BRC had revenue of $36 million after it had budgeted for $31 million and after costs the profit was $260,000.
Crowd figures showed nearly 500,000 people visited the club’s two tracks last financial year but mainly for-non racing events.
Race days attracted a total of 162,559 people with the markets bringing 158,567, Gallopers 87,361, non-racing social events 65,000 and other non-racing events 9,413.
