Thoroughbreds Could Return To Deagon
- Sunday, 20 July 2014 08:52
A grass track harness racing meeting at Deagon next month could be a fore-runner for thoroughbred meetings to return to the seaside track for the first time in 73 years.
Apart from a one-off restricted meeting during the 2007 equine influenza crisis and last year's picnic races, there has been no gallops racing at Deagon since it was closed as a racetrack in November 1941.
It has remained as a training centre and is also the location of Racing Queensland's headquarters.
The August meeting is being backed by RQ, Redcliffe Harness Racing Club and the Brisbane Racing Club and is part of a series with Kilcoy and Beaudesert racetracks hosting recent non-TAB harness meetings.
The grass trotting meeting will have Sky Channel and TAB coverage.
RQ's chief executive Darren Condon said he was aware of a push for thoroughbred racing to return to Deagon to help ease the pressure on other tracks when Eagle Farm closes for eight months from August 20 for renovations.
"It is possible to overcome some of the problems such as stewards rooms, judges towers, jockeys rooms, weigh out areas, on course tote and even a media room," Condon said.
"But the big problem is landlines for radio coverage and also whether Sky can also operate at a gallops meeting at Deagon."
Condon said the harness race meeting would show whether it was "feasible" to hold race meetings at Deagon.
"I emphasis the word feasible. There is nothing definite but we are aware that Deagon has a proud history and racing has a lot of support in the area," he said.
As well as being a training centre, Deagon is regularly used for barrier trials.
