Bookmakers refund bets after Stradbroke Handicap moved to Doomben
RACING Queensland has decided to move the remaining Winter Carnival dates in Brisbane to Doomben after the state of Eagle Farm track was finally deemed unsuitable for racing.
The decision was made after RQ meet industry representatives in order to present the best possible surface to provide quality racing in Queensland on the most important race dates on its calendar.
The stewards car after the last at Eagle Farm pic.twitter.com/UukotCnXHK
— Shane Adair (@beat_the_bagman) May 29, 2017
RQ CEO Dr Elliot Forbes announced Monday that the Queensland Oaks will be moved to Doomben, and not long after decided to shift the entire carnival.
I’ve seen a lot of horses pull up amiss today at Eagle Farm.
some will never race again.
This is not good for racing in Queensland.— John Zielke Racing (@BIGjohnZZZ) May 27, 2017
Dr Forbes said the feedback was overwhelming that Eagle Farm’s surface was not truly equipped for the remaining dates on the schedule.
“The consensus from the feedback was that while Eagle Farm was safe for racing, it is an inferior racing surface,” Dr Forbes said.
“Racing Queensland is committed to providing outcomes that are in the best interests of the industry as a whole and that includes a racing surface befitting the quality of the horses and races being contested.
“Eagle Farm and Doomben are premier venues for racing in Queensland and we want to ensure the racing experience at both is consistent with that standard.
“This has not been an easy decision. However, the Board has taken into account feedback from all stakeholders and we are united in wanting the best outcomes for the industry as a whole.”
While the decision has been applauded by owners and trainers from the southern states, local trainers were not as receptive.
One of Brisbane’s leading trainers Robert Heathcote believes the decision could cripple racing in the sunshine state.
“We’ve been living with this situation for the past 12 months and now we are going to have a track at Doomben that will be hammered and Eagle Farm that has obvious issues,” Heathcote said.
“What are we going to do when everyone goes home?
“Yes it looked ugly last week, but the track is safe. I can understand why the decision has been made but I feel it may have been hasty and on the whim of southern visitors.
“This decision is going to cost the local industry a lot of money, commercially it is going to hurt this club and while it may not be perfect for carnival racing, the visitors will go back home and we will be left to pick up the pieces.”
Bookmakers offer refunds on big Queensland races
CALL it common decency or just common courtesy, but online bookmaker Ladbrokes and William Hill have decided to issue refunds on futures bets on the Queensland Oaks.
The state of the Eagle Farm track has forced Racing Queensland into moving Saturday’s Group One Oaks and the remainder of the card to Doomben, meaning the the feature will be run over 2200m instead of the traditional journey of 2400m.
Ladbrokes have issued automatic refunds following the venue and distance change, while William Hill have offered to void customer bets if they wish to do so.
@Punters Bets are being refunded due to the change of venue and distance.
— Ladbrokes.com.au (@ladbrokescomau) May 29, 2017
As always in the racing community, Ladbrokes decision to issue refunds without consultation has divided punters.
Some complained about the refund.
@ladbrokescomau @roger_oldridge I don’t want a refund. I want my bet to stand. My understanding is that other bookies are honouring bets they took. Why not Ladbrokes?
— Stavro (@stavrosben) May 29, 2017
While others applauded the decision.
Congratulations to @ladbrokescomau for refunding all QLD oaks all in bets due to change in racetrack and change in distance.
— Joel (@joeldavies12) May 29, 2017
As of Tuesday, it appears that Ladbrokes and William Hill will be the only companies taking the refunding path.
Sportsbet, TAB and Ubet have all confirmed that they will not be issuing cancelations on any futures bets on the Oaks.