Bob Bentley.

The Chronicle/Nev Madsen

QUEENSLAND Racing Limited (QRL) yesterday added more details to its planned replacement of the Clifford Park course proper when it outlined a timetable of events to Toowoomba industry stakeholders.

A contingent of QRL officials, several Sunshine Coast trainers and Toowoomba Turf Club representatives met with a group of full-time professional Clifford Park trainers to update them on a timeline for replacing the existing turf with the synthetic Cushion Track compound.

QRL Chairman Bob Bentley led the meeting address which was attended by a large body of trainers still opposed to the track conversion.

Bentley said racing would end on the Clifford Park grass in mid-to-late February and resume in July with a gala-opening day highlighted by the delayed running of the 2009 Weetwood Handicap and Toowoomba Cup.

Twenty-two Saturday twilight meetings will be transferred to the Sunshine Coast while work takes place at the track.

Bentley said QRL would approach the Dalby & Northern Downs Jockey Club to possibly host several midweek TAB Bunya Park programs during Clifford Park's closure.

QRL is also considering a $175 float rebate for Darling Downs horses travelling to Saturday Sunshine Coast meetings and making available overnight stabling at Corbould Park is also under consideration.

Bentley conceded there remains opposition to the Cushion Track course proper installation but QRL remained committed he said to ensuring the track's racing future for all stakeholders.

“I understand there is a fair rump still against it, but I think today we might have helped change the view of some of those people,” Bentley said.

“For those who remain against it, all I can say is the decision has been made and now let's get on with it.

“Everything possible will be done to assist people while the work proceeds,” Bentley said.

“Arguing and mucking around delays everything and adds to the costs.

“Some construction work, which won't affect anybody, will start before Christmas and racing will close at the completion of the light installation at Corbould Park around mid-to-late February.

“Racing will return to Clifford Park with a gala Weetwood and Toowoomba Cup day and Toowoomba will then revert to its normal schedule.”

But doubts remained yesterday amongst a group of Clifford Park trainers who are in the process of reforming the Toowoomba Trainers' Association in an effort to block the Cushion Track course-proper revamp.

“We are not against Cushion Track being installed at Clifford Park but we remain opposed to it replacing the course proper,” interim association president John Dann said after attending yesterday's meeting.

“We weren't satisfied with today's meeting outcome and we will probably go back to our members next week,” he said.

“No guarantees have been provided for the future of racing at Clifford Park.

“Nothing has been documented and we will now look at developing a plan of action we can take back to our members.

“It was also disappointing Bob Bentley would not apologise for referring to association members as a “rag-tag” group of trainers.”