The affected area is mown at the racecourse. Photo: Gold Coast Turf Club/Twitter (X)
The Gold Coast Turf Club is working around the clock to save the Magic Millions race this Saturday after its Bundall racetrack was vandalised late last week.
The club says spray nozzles, mixing equipment and footprints were found near the damaged area as police continue to investigate.
Police say detectives are investigating and say the damage occurred overnight on Friday, January 3. They told ABC News that poison may have been used.
They said they were alerted around 7pm to the damage on the racetrack.
“We’re awaiting an independent report from leading agronomist company Easton Turf, who has been up to take samples of the damaged turf, but it’s looking more and more a case of vandalism,” said club chairman Brett Cook.
“We know the spray nozzles aren’t ours because they’re plastic and we use brass.”
Cook says that Easton Turf have seen similar cases before and have spoken to police.
“If it does turn out to be a deliberate act, which is looking increasingly likely, we’re very disappointed with a narrative that has come out suggesting it was some sort of mistake on our part.”
Repair work is continuing and the club has hired specialists to help, including track manager Liam O’Keefe, who has had experience with similar repairs at Flemington, and turf experts.
Special machinery was called in on Sunday to help out with repair work.
The club says that once repairs are done, jockeys will gallop horses over the course tomorrow (January 9) to assess the condition.
While the club is hopeful that Saturday’s Magic Millions will go ahead, plans are being discussed should it not go ahead.
Among the VIP guests who were expected to attend were Princess Zara Phillips and husband Mike Tindall, Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater and wife Nicole, and polo player Nacho Figueras and wife Delfina Blaquier.
CAULFIELD RACECOURSE
Meanwhile, a 51-year-old man will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today (January 8) over fires at Caulfield and Mordialloc on Tuesday, including one at Caulfield Racecourse.
The man has been charged with four counts of arson, two counts of trespass and one count each of burglary, criminal damage and theft.
Victoria Police say a series of fires were lit in Caulfield and Mordialloc on January 7; these included one in the Caulfield Racecourse grandstand at about 6.25am, several grass fires in Mordialloc about 12.30pm and a series of small fires in Arnott St, Caulfield.
The man, whose last known address was in Wangaratta, was arrested by police at the Mordialloc rail station, that same day about 1.45pm.
