A proposal to move the Doomben 10,000 to Eagle Farm will be the major topic of discussion for Queensland racing’s major advisory group when it meets this week.
The Thoroughbred Advisory Panel is made up of members from a wide cross section of racing industry participants including trainers, jockeys, owners, breeders, and betting operators.
It was established by the state government to be an effective sounding board for racing administrators.
Plans to run next year’s 10,000 at Eagle Farm instead of Doomben on May 27 have met with widespread discussion.
The 10,000 has been run at Doomben since 1933 and is regarded as one of two iconic races in Queensland along with the Stradbroke Handicap.
Racing Queensland will put the proposal to the advisory group on Wednesday.
RQ will then make a decision and inform the Brisbane Race Club who will have to accept it before the change can be made.
BRC Chairman Neville Bell has made it clear he is in favour of the change but doesn’t believe the result is set in stone.
“The idea has been around for a year that we go back to the previous regime where there were three days at Eagle Farm and two days at Doomben,” Bell said.
“This is the first proposal but it may not be the last.”
Mary Collier, the former chair of the Brisbane Turf Club which once ran Doomben, has been a vocal opponent of the change.
“Whatever they do I just hope it is a well considered decision which is not just a change for change’s sake,” she said.
