Queensland Racing Minister Steve Dickson has confirmed that Toowoomba will retain its regular Saturday night twilight timetable after the construction of the turf track. Picture: Glenn Barnes Source: The Courier-Mail
QUEENSLAND Racing Minister Steve Dickson yesterday vowed the creation of the new Toowoomba turf track would restore the wagering confidence that has been lost in the troubled cushion track era.
Figures show that wagering turnover on racing at Toowoomba's Clifford Park has decreased by 24.8 per cent in the past two years, while the number of horses racing there declined by 7 per cent in the past year.
The controversial cushion track has been to blame for the free fall but yesterday marked the start of a new beginning with the last race on the cushion which saw its first race on Weetwood Handicap day in 2009.
Work begins today on a $7 million project that has a timeline of returning grass racing to the course proper by December 31.
With an inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption under a previous racing authority, Dickson yesterday declared the move back to grass in Toowoomba was about moving forward with confidence.
"Everybody in racing in Queensland realises the synthetic track has failed. This is a ticket for future prosperity," Dickson told The Courier-Mail.
"I will put it this clearly. Anybody in their right mind understands that it has been a failure. It has failed miserably, we have lost trainers, we have lost breeders we have lost participation and wagering. It was heading in one direction, downhill.
"We have got a judicial review going on at the moment, that is going to clean up the ghosts of the past but this is about moving forward."
Turf systems specialists StrathAyr will install the new track in partnership with Cairns-based civil construction company Cheshire Contractors.
Asked if the new track would restore betting and training confidence in Toowoomba, Dickson replied: "Yes, it is about the new track going down, it is about creating confidence and stability in the industry.
"The message has got to get out there and that is a part of what we are doing from today forward."
Stewards have approved the inner grass track for nine meetings while the course proper is built.
Dickson confirmed that Toowoomba would retain its regular Saturday night twilight timetable after the construction of the turf track.
In the recent cushion track era
* Wagering turnover on racing in Toowoomba decreased by 24.8 per cent in the last two years.
* The number of horses racing there declined by 7 per cent in the last year.
* The number of runners provided at race meetings across Queensland from the Toowoomba training centre fell by 14 per cent between 2007 and 2012.
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