Racing Queensland reviews race rules

Racing Queensland is considering changes the qualifying system for various sprint and staying race series finals.

The move follows recent examples when large numbers of horses in series finals have not run in a qualifying race.

A suggestion is it would be mandatory for horses to have competed in a qualifier to be eligible to compete in a series final.

The change isn’t set in stone as the current conditions were developed to protect and maximise field sizes, to boost wagering revenue.

The Provincial Stayers Final race on Ipswich Cup Day had 16 horses of which only 10 contested a qualifier.

It meant the field size for a feature race with a $100,000 purse would have been only 10 had the conditions included the proposed additional restriction.

RQ is also changing race programming in the coming months in an effort to protect Doomben racetrack while Eagle Farm is closed.

The Doomben meeting on Saturday, August 25 has been swapped to the Sunshine Coast with that club’s Sunday meeting on August 26 going to Beaudesert.

A further Doomben meeting on Wednesday August 29, has been swapped to Ipswich.

Mackay will pick up the Ipswich Friday meeting on August 31.

Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell said the industry had to be complimented with clubs helping to cover for Doomben which had taken a heavy workload in the past four years.

It is understood officials hope to have one meeting at Eagle Farm before Christmas and then give it the chance a recover before full schedules next year.