Gold Coast Racecourse

Gold Coast Racecourse, Queensland.

Gold Coast Racecourse is situated on the Gold Coast Queensland about 5 minutes from Surfers Paradise. 

Gold Coast Racecourse which is operated by the Gold Coast Turf Club has been in operation for over fifty years. During this time it has developed the Gold Coast Racecourse and its facilities have grown into a large and versatile venue that offers some of the most exciting entertainment to be found in South East Queensland.

Racing on the Gold Coast dates back to the 1890's when an occasional public meeting was run in the old cane paddocks of Bundall, not far from the present Gold Coast Turf Club.

Regular racing at its present headquarters began on 15 May 1946 when the club was known as the Southport and District Amateur Race Club (formed on 17 March 1946). Racing in those days was on a sand track.

In January 1971, the club began conducting races every Saturday at the Gold Coast Racecourse.

In August of that year the Club launched the Newmarket-Gold Coast Cup three-day carnival on a quality grass track. Back then the race was sponsored by Carlton and United Breweries and carried prize money of just $2,000.

In 1974, the Prime Minister's Cup was launched, carrying Australia's richest purse for a provincial race of $30,000 and in 2002, the Prime Minister's Cup, then sponsored by Conrad Jupiters, became a stand-alone Saturday race meeting.

In 2006 a record crowd of over 7500 people attended at the Gold Coast Racecourse and witnessed the running of the Carlton Draught Prime Minister's Cup which included a record prizepool for the raceday of $1.16million.

The Gold Coast Racecourse has a circumference of 1,885 metres with a straight 400 metres long. A good even track with sweeping turns making it a track for inside barriers and perhaps front runners.  

The Gold Coast turf club holds around 60 racing meetings per year including the Magic Millions Carnival held annually in January and also the Prime Minister's Cup and A D Hollindale Stakes, both held in early May.

The Gold Coast Racecourse is also home to one of Australia's largest training centres, with approximately 650 horses in work for some of South East Queensland's leading trainers.

• 1000 metres:  Starts at the end of a chute off the course proper giving runners only a short run before sweeping turns to the home straight.  Inside barrier draws are a great advantage here.

• 1200 metres:  This start is off the course proper down a chute.  Runners drawn out wide are of a disadvantage.

• 1300 metres:  This barrier is situated on the course proper, with a run of about  200 metres to the sweeping double turn. Inside barriers have the advantage.

• 1400 metres:  Starts just on the course proper and there is a straight run for 400 metres to  to the first turn.  Inside barrier draws have a slight advantage.

• 1800 metres:  Located just of the course proper in a chute. Inside barriers are favoured.

• 2200 metres:  Same as the 1800 metre  barriers.

• 2400 metres:  Because of the distance of the race runners have time to find a good position in running.  Inside barriers are of slight importance.

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