Racing: Snake swamp now world-class track

Another tight finish at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club. The club has some similarities to Racing Tauranga. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

There are a number of similarities between Racing Tauranga and the Sunshine Coast Turf Club in Queensland. Both are located a few kilometres from the coastal holiday resorts of Mount Maunganui and Caloundra respectively, and have relatively similar populations in a 25km radius.

However, in terms of history the two provincial thoroughbred racing clubs are markedly different. While Bay of Plenty Racing, the forerunner to Racing Tauranga, celebrated its centenary in 1973, the Sunshine Coast club raced for the first time in July 1985.

The inaugural meeting of the Sunshine Coast club's board was held on June 30, 1977, with the club starting with a blank canvas, to build the first new thoroughbred racecourse in Queensland in nearly half a century.

The eight-year build of Corbould Park was described "as the conversion of a snake-infested swamp into a world-class racing complex".

Starting from scratch, the Sunshine Coast club was able to build a perfectly planned, fully functional racing venue, ready for the first barrier rise.

The official announcement of the first race date came on January 25, 1985, with the turf club's inaugural meeting on July 25, 1985.

It is worth noting that the first winner on the inaugural race day was Mister Omega, ridden by top Sydney jockey Ron Quinton, for a stake of $5000.

Later in the day, the first feature race, the Sunshine Coast Daily Cup worth $25,000, was taken out by Rock Show, trained by legendary Queensland trainer JJ (Jim) Atkins. Atkins, who passed away a few years ago, is remembered at the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, with the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes for 2-year-olds re-named in his honour.

With 68 meetings scheduled for the 2014/15 season, the Sunshine Coast club plays an important role in Queensland Racing. It has a number of feature races during the season, with the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas, Listed Caloundra Cup, Listed Glasshouse Mountains handicap and the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup.

SMART OPERATORS: Top-class facilities are a feature of Corbould Park.

One of the most popular days on the calendar, which brings a full house to the course, is Ladies Oaks Day on Show Day Friday each May.

One Western Bay local, who experienced the glitz and glamour of Ladies Day this year, is Bay of Plenty Rugby president John Dowling. He is a member of a syndicate that races That'llbgood from the Corbould Park stables of ex-Kiwi trainer Paul Duncan. The ownership comprises six Te Puke residents, plus an owner apiece from Auckland and Victoria, and Paul Duncan.

"Paul Duncan put the syndicate together before he relocated to Queensland, with the horse changing stables to a Matamata trainer, when Paul moved to the Sunshine Coast," Dowling said.

"After three unsuccessful starts in New Zealand, Paul convinced us to send the horse back to him in Queensland, where he said there were greater opportunities to place horses relevant to their ability. Being on a family holiday on the Sunshine Coast at the end of May, I was lucky enough to be on course at Corbould Park on Ladies Day, when That'llbgood won a filly and mares' feature race worth $25,000.

"It was without doubt that biggest thrill I have experienced in racing and it was extra special to celebrate in front of some seven or eight thousand people on course, to cap off a great day."

"I have become a big fan of the Sunshine Coast training set-up which gives plenty of racing options. Corbould Park races most Sundays, the two Brisbane City courses are an hour away, with further options of provincial tracks at Ipswich and the Gold Coast."

That'llbgood has won four races in the last 12 months with all four victories coming at the Sunshine Coast club's headquarters.

Not content to rest on its laurels, the club continued its quest to be the most innovative club in Queensland, with the addition of an all-weather track and lights that have made night racing a reality in Caloundra.

The cushion track evolved because Racing Queensland wanted more racing at prime tracks and venues, which at Corbould Park required a back-up track and more durable surface for trackwork.

The Caloundra region has high rainfall during the wet season with particularly heavy grass track conditions. The cushion track allows meetings to be switched from a Heavy 10 grass track to a Good 3 on the cushion surface, that actually provides a better racing surface if rain falls during the meeting.

The major benefit of the cushion course is never having to abandon racing due to adverse track conditions.

The instillation of lights a couple of years ago provides for Friday night racing during the summer. Corbould Park is also a major training establishment in Queensland with 70 trainers registered to train on the course. The club invested heavily in the course horse barns, with 256 stables fully utilised each year.

In addition to the local horses, visiting out of state and Kiwi trainers base their horses at Corbould Park for the Queensland Christmas and Winter racing carnivals. Early morning, most days of the weeks, sees frenetic activity on the course and stables, with up to 400 horses can work on any given day.

Facilities for owners, trainers and the punters who flock to the course contrast sharply with New Zealand courses. Because of the tropical weather there are no requirements for large grandstands to shelter from the elements. Corbould Park has a superb Members Stand and a large covered public area that allows the breezes to filter through the area for the punters' comfort.

Adding to the picturesque setting is a large in-course lake which is practical as well as attractive. The inner lake is a natural underground freshwater spring that is used for on-course irrigation of the track.

The Sunshine Coast Turf Club is well positioned for the future. Strategically located within an hour of Brisbane and with the greater Sunshine Coast region having a population approaching 300,000, there's a ready market.

The recent substantial injection of funding into Queensland Racing via a Government reduction in betting taxation sees the club well positioned to continue as a strategic venue for Queensland racing, well into the future.