Australian horse racing bosses Thursday stopped a controversial bikini girl race from taking place.
The $5000 race at the Gold Coast Turf Club's Bundall track on December 4 would have begun with 150 scantily-clad "fillies and mares" released from barrier stalls.
But Racing Queensland chairman Bob Bentley said it will not be going ahead.
"This does nothing for the image of making the Gold Coast a city of repute. So we won't sanction it, it won't go ahead," he told Australian public broadcaster the ABC Thursday.
The Bikini Track Sprint had been slammed as tacky and demeaning by critics including Queensland's top female horse trainer, Gillian Heinrich.
Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Andrew Eggleston did not give up hope of the event still going ahead and was seeking urgent talks with Racing Queensland.
He said the race was "not for floozies in bikinis" but would be run by Athletics Queensland and feature "elite" runners including top beach sprinters. The event would also raise money for surf lifesaving.
"It's going to be quite an event — we've already had phone calls from interstate clubs wanting to run heats next year. Everyone could be a winner out of this," Eggleston said.
The turf club still plans to run the race in front of the grandstand if it is banned only from the actual course.
