The troubled Gold Coast turf racing surface is expected to be given at least until the 2024/25 racing season to be tested under raceday conditions after the decision was made to pull the pin on the inaugural night meeting which featured a new $1 million Magic Millions race.
The new lights, which were destined to be used for the first time at the May 24 meeting, were given their first major test on Wednesday night, and while they passed with flying colours, the track flunked the audition.
The turf track hasn’t been raced on since the Aquis Jewel meeting in March, when it was heavily criticised for having significant kickback. The newly renovated track had previously been sandgrooved following the Magic Millions feature meeting in January, but that, plus a wet Queensland summer and autumn, meant the grass growth hadn’t been sufficient.
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