Brisbane Racing Club races to prepare Eagle Farm for Doomben switch

Brisbane Racing Club chief executive Karl De Kroo says a full rail change, track patch and reset of patron areas were needed to prepare Eagle Farm for Saturday’s metropolitan meeting transferred from Doomben.

“Moving a race meeting across the road from Doomben to Eagle Farm in 24 hours sounds easy… but it ain’t!” De Kroo said.

After racing at Eagle Farm on Wednesday and more than 150mm of rain for the week, De Kroo said it was “all hands on deck” to prepare for Saturday.

“Couldn’t be more proud of the hardworking team at Brisbane Racing Club for rolling up their sleeves (literally) to complete a full rail change and track patch, plus a full reset of every patron area.”

Racing Queensland transferred the meeting after persistent rain left Doomben unraceable. Seven of the 10 races change distance. Eagle Farm was rated Heavy 10 on Friday.

The Sunshine Coast’s course-proper meeting on Friday was abandoned after a further 100mm fell overnight, and the backup Polytrack meeting was activated. The Gold Coast’s Saturday turf meeting has also moved to its Polytrack.

Ipswich lost both its Thursday meeting and its barrier trials after 34mm of rain fell from 4am that day. Beaudesert’s Friday trials were called off, as were the Eagle Farm and Toowoomba trials on Tuesday.