Detectives are investigating damage to the Bundall racetrack, which has forced the relocation of the first day of racing in the highly anticipated Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival.

Police said they received a report about 7pm Friday that a large area of the racetrack had “sustained damage”.

Due to safety concerns, Saturday night’s start of the Magic Millions carnival — a twilight race meeting — will be moved to the Sunshine Coast Turf Club, a two-hour drive away.

The carnival’s main race day, worth $14.5 million in prize money across 11 races, is scheduled for the following Saturday, January 11. It is unclear if the Gold Coast track will be repaired in time.

In a statement, Racing Queensland said a section of the course near the 500-metre mark had become discoloured.

“A series of course proper gallops involving senior jockeys was conducted at the Gold Coast this afternoon [yesterday], with concerns raised that the meeting would be unable to proceed.”

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said he hoped the cause of the discolouration was quickly found.

“Well, it’s disgraceful. I know that police are actively investigating at the moment,” he said.

“I think this is actually really, really disheartening and disappointing, and I hope that in a very short period of time, the police find who was responsible.”

Concert, functions to go ahead on Gold Coast

The race’s social functions and a performance by Daryl Braithwaite will still be held at Bundall on Saturday night, despite the race itself being moved to the Sunshine Coast.

Gold Coast Turf Club chief executive Steve Lines said a refund would be issued to ticketholders and the Braithwaite performance would be free.

He said the gates were open and there was free entry.

At this stage, he said the club hoped to return to the Gold Coast for next weekend’s main event.

“It attracts thousands and thousands of people, it brings around $40-50 million worth of economic benefit to the city just for that one week,” Mr Lines said.

Attendee Josephine Kinsella said she was looking to make the most of the day despite a lack of horses on the track.

“Obviously it’s a disappointment but as locals we’ve got friends [visiting] from out of town and it’s great to come and support a local venue,” she said.

“It’s always a great day.”

Sunshine Coast Turf Club chief executive John Miller said he had been working “around the clock to manage staff and logistics” so gates could open at midday.

“Shock that this [the damage] has happened around Magic Millions time because the last couple of years, there seems to have been always something happening around the track or the race meeting,” he said.

He said despite the live site at the Gold Coast, owners and people involved with the horses would want to travel to the Sunshine Coast to see them race.

“Because of the short notice, it’s pretty limited bar food and things on course, but our staff will do their best to make sure the experience is first class.”

Investigations into the damage are ongoing and anyone with information is being urged to contact police.