The return date for racing at Eagle Farm will be made clear on Friday
The return date for racing at Queensland’s major racetrack at Eagle Farm will be made clear on Friday.
Racing Minister Grace Grace met with leading racing officials on the Gold Coast on Thursday to discuss a report into the indefinite closure of the track.
Eagle Farm has not raced since May 27 and Grace instigated an independent report from former Victoria Race Club chief executive Dale Monteith.
The track was closed after repeated complaints by trainers, owners and punters about the racing surface.
The report was sent to Racing Queensland last week and then passed on to Grace on Friday.
Grace has been on the Gold Coast this week for community cabinet and convened a meeting on Thursday.
It was attended by Brisbane Race Club boss Neville Bell and the club’s chief executive David Whimpey as well as RQ chief executive Eliot Forbes and Monteith.
After the meeting, Grace said she would release details of the report to the media and public on Friday.
“Mr Monteith has delivered a thorough and exhaustive report on Eagle Farm which provides a clear way forward to remediating the track,” Grace said.
“He has fully briefed me on the report, along with Racing Queensland and Brisbane Race club officials and we had a very productive meeting today.”
“I expect RQ and the BRC to implement his recommendations in full so that racing can resume at Eagle Farm as soon as possible.”
Grace would not elaborate on what the report contained until Friday but it is understood much of it involves the sand base of the track and whether it needs to be replaced.
