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From Wallum Swamp to grazing land and now one of the country’s finest thoroughbred racing and training facilities in Australia – The Sunshine Coast Turf Club.
1999
Following a grant from Queensland Principal Club’s Racecourse Development Fund the facility was repainted with a then modern scheme of green and yellow and new lights for training were installed. 1999 also saw the privatisation of TAB Queensland which not only changed the Sunshine Coast Turf Club but the whole racing industry in general. During this time membership dropped to an all time low of 449.
1999
2000
In February, Mick Sullivan was appointed Chief Executive Officer.
2000
2001
Mick launched the 100 Club concept and Gala Dinner Draw. In the inaugural year, the event was fully subscribed with 100 Sponsors and naming rights of Caloundra Cup was won by Castlemaine Perkins (XXXX). Further development was completed throughout Corbould Park. The now Champagne Garden was converted from garden beds to a level area with retaining walls and exposed aggregate paved flooring. ATM’s were also installed through-out the Course.
2001
2002
The Caloundra Cup Changed from a mid-week carnival to a stand alone metropolitian Saturday, combining Caloundra Cup, Glasshouse Handicap and Sunshine Coast Guineas on the one programme.
2002
2003
February saw the completion of the equine Swimming Pool/Dam. The Dam is 0.8ha, holds 22 megalitres and reaches a depth of 4 metres. There is a 70 metre hardwood platform with hand rails and guide poles; and a concrete ramp and crusher dust completing the approach.
2003
2004
Ensuring that views were not obstructed from the Members Enclosure, shade sails were installed over the Champagne Garden as this area has been very popular for bookings.
2004
2005
The Club in partnership with Hot 91.1 ran its inaugural Ladies Oaks Day on the Caloundra Show Holiday with attendance of 8,127. This year’s Melbourne Cup saw a record crowd of 13,155 attending.
2005
2006
As the Club’s lease was nearing expiry and the Club needed security beyond the expiry date of 31st December 2012, Sunshine Coast Turf Club approached Racing Queensland and negotiations began regarding the possibilities of the Racing Industry purchasing the freehold from Caloundra City Council.
2006
2007
On 27 July, Sunshine Coast Racing Unit Trust purchased the freehold land from Caloundra City Council. This ownership is between Racing Queensland and the Sunshine Coast Turf Club. This ensured the future of the Sunshine Coast Turf Club as its Lease with Caloundra City Council was to expire on 30 June 2012. It was also the year that Equine Influenza (EI)outbreak crippled Queensland racing (from late August) for a three month period. With restrictive measures in place, racing recommenced at Corbould Park on Sunday 2 December. This meant that the Club held a “Phantom” Melbourne Cup meeting. Even though we were back racing it wasn’t until late February 2008 before all the restrictions and bio-security measures were lifted.
2007
2008
In late 2008, Racing Queensland invested $7.1 million into a development project at Corbould Park that saw the installation of 960 lights, 40 towers and two million watts of brightness! In addition, a 40sqm large outdoor screen was installed on the inside of the track making Corbould Park one for the first racing clubs to have a permanent screen. The revolutionary synthetic racetrack (“Cushion Track”) was installed in 2008. The cushion track provides an all-weather racing surface and was the first of its kind in Australia.
2008
2009
Saturday 21st February 2009 saw the first race meeting under lights and the first of a succession of Saturday meetings whilst Toowoomba Turf Club was installing their cushion track.
2009
2010
During 2010, Racing Queensland assumed operational management of racing at Corbould Park which included track, stabling and staff. The Sunshine Coast Turf Club retained the right to manage the day-to-day operations and maintain the facility. During this period, Racing Queensland saw the need to establish an On-Course Stabling Complex. The current structure which accommodates 256 horses within the grounds of Corbould Park was constructed. The new state-of-the-art facility enticed both interstate and international trainers to call the Sunshine Coast home.
2010
2011
During 2011, major renovations were completed throughout the Racecourse, maintaining Corbould Park status as a first-class racing and training facility. Remodelling to the Function Room, Stewards Rooms, Members Enclosure, Public Bar and Administration building; as well as the installation and upgrade in AV, tote monitors and the introduction of point of sales cash registers. A barcoded ticketing system was also introduced throughout the facility. Further upgrades of the main entrance roadways from back of marquee area through to Public Bar and Kiosk were completed. Sunshine Coast Turf Club galloped into the record books again in 2011, with 79 race meetings scheduled on the racing calendar, more than any other racecourse in Australia.
2011
2012
With the change of Government and Racing Queensland administration, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club was re-instated to the role of racing and track management. The change of administration took place on 1 August and included the management of Racing Queensland’s On-Course Stabling Complex. Construction to the Champagne Garden saw the addition of a full lock up bar with storeroom, new tote facilities and a fully operational kitchen with state-of-the-art cooking facilities. The renovations were completed in time for Ladies Oaks Day and this area soon became the premier event space at Corbould Park.
2012
2013
Changes to Queensland Racing stripped the Sunshine Coast Turf Club of preferred racedays and pushed prime TAB meetings on to regional tracks. The changes had significant impact to the Club, costing it 34 of the 49 Sunday race meetings it conducted in the previous year.
2013
2014
After seven years of operation, the bottom layer of sand compacted on the Cushion Track, which required a total turnover of Cushion Track material. The work took two excavators three weeks to complete and was completed without any impact to operations or daily training.
2014
2015
2015 saw the beginning of major refurbishments to the Corbould Park complex. Secured funding enabled a facelift of the Members facilities including new bar, carpets and furniture. A reconfiguration of turnstiles, the installation of ticket booths, floor tiling and signage completed at the Main Entrance saw Corbould Park evolve into a first class facility. In a spectacular turn of events, the Chris Waller trained Winx outclassed the opposition in a last to first place win at the Sunshine Coast Guineas. Winx had all 16 rivals in front of her when turning for home, but the Larry Cassidy ridden Winx not only swept home to win, but put a near two-length margin on her rivals.
2015
2016
The redevelopment plans continued throughout 2016 with the installation of a permanent Marquee structure, to cater for groups of 30-60 people, on the lower Members Terrace. Refurbishments transformed the Burger Bar into the now Furlong Café. The outdoor screen was replaced with a large 55sqm screen and a total upgrade to the track irrigation system was completed.
2016
2017
2017 saw the appointment of John Miller after the retirement of CEO Mick Sullivan following a 17 year tenure.
2017
2018
2018 saw further upgrades completed at Corbould Park with the installation of fibre optic internet cabling, new turnstiles and ticketing systems. The new technology replaced the second-hand turnstiles installed in 2011 and enabled further advancements in technology for the Club. During the lead up to the 2018 Melbourne Cup, Queensland races came to a standstill as an alliance of trainers, jockeys, owners and breeders announced plans to strike over the Government’s handling of the Point of Consumption Tax. Following discussions, the Queensland Government brokered a deal with the Racing Industry and negotiations saw an increase of $26 million of prize money for Queensland thoroughbred TAB race meetings. After a period of uncertainty brought about by the strike action, the Melbourne Cup celebrations went ahead as planned. However, the threat of strike action proved to have significant commercial implications for the Club with the lowest reported crowd attendance in ten years. Despite this, not everyone was put off by a visit to Corbould Park, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison making an appearance at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club and enjoying a beer and a punt.
2018
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