Tradition trumps carnival attraction as 10,000 remains at Doomben

ONE of the most-popular events on the Queensland racing calendar – the Doomben 10,000 – will continue to be run at its traditional home of Doomben after a move to make the race part of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival was rejected.

Racing Queensland (RQ) did not leave the $700,000 group 1 race untouched however, electing to make alterations to the race itself to increase its popularity.

The racing body decided to trim the race down to 1200m and move it to a May 13 running date, away from its previous date of May 27.

RQ chief executive officer Eliot Forbes said the organisation had proposed a number of changes to the Winter Carnival for 2017, including moving the 27 May Doomben race day to Eagle Farm, but key stakeholders the Australian Pattern Committee and the Asian Pattern Committee chose to leave the race at its spiritual home.

“Feedback from a wide cross-section of industry stakeholders was a vital consideration in the final decision,” Forbes said.

“We clearly listened to that feedback and maintained the status quo in terms of the venue for the Doomben 10,000, though we have moved the date on which it will be run.”

The decision to keep the Doomben 10,000 at its original home has led RQ to move the Group 1 BTC Cup to Eagle Farm on May 27.

Forbes said the decision was made to help horses that are running in the Stradbroke Handicap just under three weeks later the ideal preparation at the lucrative race.

“Racing Queensland is keen to provide all horses with an opportunity to compete in the pivotal lead-in race over the ideal distance and at the same venue as the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on 10 June,” he said.

“It is our view that we are now providing an optimal progression of race distances for the Group One races in the Doomben 10,000 at 1200-metres, the BTC Cup at 1300-metres and the Stradbroke Handicap at 1400-metres.

“Racing Queensland also believes the industry will benefit from increased wagering on these races while the Brisbane Racing Club will be able to maximise commercial opportunities over the three meetings.”

RQ also elected to mov the Group 3 Fred Best Classic from Doomben on 20 May to Eagle Farm on 27 May.

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