Gold Coast needs prizemoney upgrade

The Gold Coast Turf Club is to resume a push for better prize money with an expected surge in trainer numbers wanting to use its facilities.

At least three interstate stables and a Queensland trainer are believed to be looking at either relocating or having satellite operations on the Gold Coast.

There are already 700 horses in work at the Gold Coast and Beaudesert which is run by the GCTC.

The club will begin a major upgrade on and off the track in coming months.

The work will include night racing lights, a synthetic track, B-grass upgrade, an infield tunnel, and a course proper resurface.

The club’s Traintech complex will also double its capacity to 260 horses.

GCTC chief executive Steve Lines said in the near future the club would cater for 1000 horses at the Gold Coast and Beaudesert.

“The only other thing which needs looking at is prize money levels,” Lines said.

“We have five clubs just over the border who are racing for (NSW) country prize money which is higher than our provincial purses.

“I would hate to see the situation where we are providing state-of-the-art training facilities for interstate racing.

“Racing Queensland has been very proactive in recent times and maybe it is one thing they will have to address soon.”