Stradbroke Handicap to Run at Doomben Racecourse

It has been revealed that the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) will run at Doomben Racecourse on June 6 next year instead of its regular home at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

The Stradbroke Handicap, won by River Lad earlier this year, will be run at Doomben Racecourse next year.

The Stradbroke Handicap, won by River Lad earlier this year, will be run at Doomben Racecourse next year. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Racing Queensland chief executive Darren Condon confirmed that the $10 million upgrade to Eagle Farm will not be completed in time for the prestigious $2 million race.

“We made it clear from the start that we would not race at Eagle Farm if the surface was not 100 per cent ready and we could not be sure that would be the case this far out from the carnival,” Condon said in a statement via Sky Racing.

“The $10 million upgrade of the state’s premier facility – the Eagle Farm course proper – will have a significant impact on the future of racing in the state and if waiting a year means preserving the track for the next 30 years then this is clearly the best decision for the industry.”

A total of four major meetings within the Brisbane Winter Carnival will be moved to other tracks, including the Oaks Day meeting with feature race Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) and Premiers Cup meeting to Doomben while the Tatt’s Tiara meeting with feature race Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) for fillies and mares will relocate to the Gold Coast.

The track changes has also caused distance changes for a number of the races, including the Stradbrokes which will be reduced from 1400m to 1350m and both the Group 1s Queensland Derby and Oaks will run over 2200m instead of 2400m.

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