Postponed Group 1 Races to Run on Queensland Oaks Day
UPDATE: Due to visibility concerns forcing Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting abandonment, both the Group 1 Queensland Derby and G1 Kingsford Smith Cup have been rescheduled to run next Saturday, June 7, creating a spectacular triple-feature alongside the G1 Queensland Oaks!
The highly anticipated Group 3 Fred Best Classic, offering a golden ticket directly into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, has been rescheduled to run this Wednesday.
Eagle Farm Races Abandoned After Race 5 Due to Weather Concerns
Brisbane, May 31, 2025 — The Queensland winter racing carnival faced a major disruption today as the Eagle Farm race meeting was abandoned after Race 5 due to deteriorating track conditions caused by persistent rainfall.
Safety First: Officials Call It Off
Racing Queensland stewards made the difficult decision to halt proceedings mid-card after a series of inspections revealed the track surface had become unsafe for both horses and jockeys. The call came following Race 5, when several jockeys expressed concerns about the footing, particularly around the home turn and back straight.
Chief Steward Allan Reardon stated, “The safety of our participants is paramount. After consulting with jockeys and conducting a thorough inspection, we determined that the surface had deteriorated to a point where continuing would pose an unacceptable risk.”
Weather Woes Continue for Eagle Farm
The abandonment adds to a growing list of weather-related issues that have plagued Eagle Farm in recent years. Despite significant investment in track renovations and drainage improvements, the surface has struggled to cope with sustained rainfall, especially during the high-stakes winter carnival period.
Rain began falling steadily on Friday evening and continued into Saturday morning, with over 40mm recorded in the 24 hours leading up to the meeting. While the track was rated a Soft 6 at the start of the day, conditions quickly worsened as the meeting progressed.
Impact on Carnival and Bettors
The abandonment is a blow to trainers, owners, and punters alike, particularly with several key lead-up races to the Stradbroke Handicap scheduled for the latter half of the card. Racing Queensland is expected to announce whether any of the abandoned races will be rescheduled or transferred to another venue.
For punters, all bets placed on Races 6 through 9 will be refunded in accordance with standard wagering rules. Major bookmakers have already begun processing refunds.
Results from the First Five Races
Despite the early finish, five races were successfully completed. Highlights included a dominant 2.84 length win by Chris & Corey Munce’s Spirit Of Boom winning colt Cool Archie ($7) in the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), which was run on a Heavy (10) and the final event to take place before the meeting was called off. Full results and replays are available on the Racing Queensland website.
Looking Ahead
With the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) set for June 14, attention now turns to the weather forecast and the condition of Eagle Farm. Racing Queensland has not ruled out transferring meetings to Doomben or Sunshine Coast if conditions do not improve.
Fans and participants are encouraged to monitor official channels for updates regarding rescheduling and track inspections.
Abandoned Eagle Farm Races
Races 6 – 9 were called off including the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) for Stradbroke bound horses where Chris Waller’s Newmarket Handicap winning mare Joliestar was favourite and the day’s marquee race, the Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (2400m) for three-year-olds.
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