Albion Park Greyhounds Super Stayers Announced
Four of Australia’s most exciting stayers have been announced by the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club as the finalists for the Imagetec Solutions Super Stayers Invitational.
He Knows Uno, Irma Bale, Abby Shiraz and Mocha Shocker are the stayers that will compete in the $15,000 to the winner invitational race to be held at the Albion Park Raceway on Thursday 21st June.
Fresh off his recent win in the Group 1 Macro Meats Gold Cup, He Knows Uno looks to be the early pre race favourite and his trainer Michael Patterson believes he could not have the greyhound in better physical condition. In winning the Gold Cup He Knows Uno recorded the fasted time of his career on the Albion Park track – 41.78sec.
Continue reading Albion Park Greyhounds Super Stayers Announced
Racing Queensland Directors Resign
At the conclusion of Friday’s board meeting, Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) announced the resignation of two directors.
Board members Wayne Milner and Bradley Ryan advised the board of their intention to resign from the board effective July 31, 2012.
Mr Ryan and Mr Milner had been members of the RQL Board from the time RQL was created on July 1, 2010 through the merging of the control bodies of the three codes of racing in Queensland. Both Mr Ryan and Mr Milner had also been members of the previous thoroughbred control body, Queensland Racing Limited.
Continue reading Racing Queensland Directors Resign
Racing Queensland Restructures Its Integrity Division
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) today announced the restructuring of the RQL integrity division, together with some key appointments.
Mr Wade Birch has been confirmed as Chief Steward of All Codes, as well as Chief Steward of Thoroughbreds.
Recognising that stewarding in Queensland is in a development phase, RQL is proud to announce the appointment of Mr Allan Reardon to the newly created position of Director of Steward Development.
Continue reading Racing Queensland Restructures Its Integrity Division
Miata The One To Beat In BGRC Gold Cup Final
Staying star Miata ran 41.89 to in her heat of the Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup (710m) on Thursday night and then drew box four in the rich final next week.
The daughter of Bombastic Shiraz-Winsome Bluebird scored by an ever creasing seven and a quarter lengths over Yowyeh with a nose to Abby Shiraz running on well for third.
Miata took her record to 24 wins and two placings from 28 starts.
Continue reading Miata The One To Beat In BGRC Gold Cup Final
Prizemoney Increases For Queensland Racing
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) has announced prizemoney increases for the coming racing year across all three codes of racing in Queensland totalling $3.5 million. These initiatives will become effective from September 1, 2012.
RQL chairman Kevin Dixon said that the changes announced today have been made possible thanks to the new State Government’s $5 million commitment to the Queensland Thoroughbred Investment Scheme (QTIS).
“The funding allocation to QTIS from the Government has freed up funds previously used by RQL for this purpose, which can now be redirected toward much needed prizemoney,” said Mr Dixon.
Continue reading Prizemoney Increases For Queensland Racing
Former UQGA President Appointed As One Of Three New Racing Queensland Board Directors
Following the resignation of Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) board directors Bob Bentley, Tony Hanmer and Bill Ludwig, three new directors have today been appointed to the RQL Board.
Warwick Stansfield, Greg Hallam and John Falvey now join Kevin Dixon, who was appointed just over two weeks ago, and remaining board members Wayne Milner and Brad Ryan.
Mr Kevin Dixon has been today been appointed chairman of the board with a deputy chairman to be decided at the next RQL board meeting.
Continue reading Former UQGA President Appointed As One Of Three New Racing Queensland Board Directors
Racing Queensland Board Departs, Separate Racing Code Boards Given Green Light
The board of Racing Queensland Limited have announced they have resolved to put forward a plan to the Queensland Government that will enable the company and the current directors to properly discharge their statutory duties and responsibilities.
This will also allow the Government to commence the implementation of its stated objective to restructure the broader racing industry in Queensland.
As part of the transitional plan the chairman of Racing Queensland Limited Mr Bob Bentley, the deputy chairman Mr Tony Hanmer and director Mr Bill Ludwig have tendered their resignations effective April 30, 2012 subject to Racing Queensland’s plan being implemented.
Continue reading Racing Queensland Board Departs, Separate Racing Code Boards Given Green Light
Racing Queensland Embraces High Court Race Fields Decision
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) welcomes the High Court Decision regarding the use of race field information and is reviewing the judgment in considering the proposed fee structure to take effect from July 1, 2012, as current agreements in place are effective until June 30, 2012.
The Acting Chairman of Racing Queensland, Mr. Tony Hanmer said this unanimous decision by the High Court now provides certainty and clarity for the Racing Industry in Queensland and Australia.
“Current arrangements favour New South Wales where Product & Program arrangements between Racing NSW and Tabcorp place Racing NSW at a considerable advantage over other states racing industries.
Continue reading Racing Queensland Embraces High Court Race Fields Decision
Gail Thorsby Officially Appointed Chief Steward For Queensland Greyhounds
Appointment of harness and greyhound chief stewards
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) today announced the appointment of new chief stipendiary stewards in harness and Greyhound Racing.
David Farquharson has been appointed as chief stipendiary steward (harness racing). David brings a wealth of experience to the role having started his career as a stipendiary steward in Queensland in 1983. He has spent time working as a stipendiary steward in Western Australia and New South Wales before returning to Queensland as a senior steward in 2007.
Continue reading Gail Thorsby Officially Appointed Chief Steward For Queensland Greyhounds
Logan Greyhounds To Hit The Ground Running In Late 2013
In early March the State Government approved the $24m funding deed for the Logan stand-alone greyhounds facility.
The Logan site, located on the corner of Compton and Kingston Roads, is ready to go and has the strong support of the greyhound industry and the Logan City Council.
The Cronulla Park, Logan project includes a one and two-turn track, training facilities and public facilities, and will deliver a premier Greyhound Racing facility for Queensland.
Continue reading Logan Greyhounds To Hit The Ground Running In Late 2013
Finish On Lure To Stay Finished In Queensland Greyhound Racing
Use of the catching pen is to remain in Greyhound Racing in Queensland.
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) has advised that it has concluded its review of the continued operation of the catching pen at the conclusion of greyhound races.
The review was aimed at ensuring that the best possible form of Greyhound Racing was being used in Queensland taking into account:
Continue reading Finish On Lure To Stay Finished In Queensland Greyhound Racing
Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club Financial Records Under Investigation
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) today announced that it had been advised by the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club of an alleged significant internal fraud/misappropriation.
The club advised RQL that a significant amount of club funds were believed to have been misappropriated and that a club employee had made admissions to police and had been charged with two offences relating to the matter.
It is understood that club officials contacted police after discovering $200,000 in financial irregularities.
Queensland police officers say a 36-year old woman has since been charged with fraud and is due to face court next month.
While the club is responsible for handling its own cash, maintaining financial records and implementing appropriate fraud control strategies, given the potential impact on the industry of a major club being affected to a significant extent, RQL is appointing forensic auditors to review the financial records of the club.
Box Eight’s A Charm For Bellagio Lad In Rough House Queensland Derby final
It promised to be a keenly contested affair, but no-one expected the 2012 Queensland Derby to be such a frantic race, with three different dogs holding the lead at some stage.
With the major players all making it through to the Group 2 final, there was plenty of talent on display. Punters had a hard time deciding on a popular pick, but eventually it would be Wild Ace who would start $2.60 favourite on Tattsbet from the two alley, ahead of Seldom Said ($4.60) who had the benefit of the rails draw and McElle ($5.20) was also given excellent chance in the race.
Once the lids opened, it was McElle in fact, who blistered across the face of the field from box six. Leading by over a length with a lap to go, McElle’s fortunes were soon about to change, along with the complexion of the race. Once Wild Ace had buried up on the inside, it shifted ground sharply to the outside, severely checking McElle who dropped back sharply.
Continue reading Box Eight’s A Charm For Bellagio Lad In Rough House Queensland Derby final
Queensland Greyhound Of The Year And Industry Award Winners Announced
Queensland’s greyhound industry celebrated the 2011 racing season with the announcement of the Greyhound of the Year, Dashing Corsair at the RQs Greyhound Awards at Sofitel Brisbane Central over the weekend.
Dashing Corsair had a fantastic pre-retirement season winning the Group 1 National Distance Championship Final, Group 3 SuperStayers and the Group 3 Big Dog Cup.
Owner Paddy Fitch and trainer Dwyer Lennon accepted the award, which capped off a career of 57 wins and 30 placings from 124 starts, 24 of which were Group finals.
Continue reading Queensland Greyhound Of The Year And Industry Award Winners Announced
Racing Queensland Officially Withdraw From Deagon In Favour Of Logan Development
The Queensland Government and Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) today unveiled significant changes to the $110 million Industry Infrastructure Plan (IIP) to deliver new and improved racing facilities across the state.
The projects are independent of the ongoing legal action surrounding the sale of Albion Park and uncertainty over any future redevelopment at Deagon.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies, Tim Mulherin, joined RQL Chairman, Bob Bentley, to detail the changes today.
Continue reading Racing Queensland Officially Withdraw From Deagon In Favour Of Logan Development
Queensland – Beautiful One Day, Confusing The Next
Just as we finished discussing the need for some reform in the structure of Greyhound Racing (see TAKING A SHOT, 23 Jan), or any racing, for that matter, out comes the extraordinary news that Racing Queensland has done a double back flip with twist.
A year or so ago RQ claimed that the previous decision to move from Albion Park to Logan, SW of Brisbane, was no good and wiped it from the books. Tens of thousands of dollars in preparatory costs went down the drain, to say nothing of confusing the civic fathers in Logan, who had put their shoulder to the wheel.
Then, later in 2011, RQ came up with plans for a multi-code development at Deagon, north of Brisbane airport. Dogs and trots were to move from Albion Park, thoroughbred trainers would be forced to move their training facilities elsewhere. An elaborate and expensive plan from consultants was presented to the public.
Continue reading Queensland – Beautiful One Day, Confusing The Next
Logan To Be The New Home Of Greyhound Headquarters In Queensland
Queensland Member for Woodridge Desley Scott and Racing Minister Tim Mulherin today announced that the future of South East Queensland Greyhound Racing is destined to be at Cronulla Park, Logan.
Mr Mulherin said following a meeting Monday between representatives of the greyhound industry and Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) it is clear the industry overwhelmingly supports the development of the greyhound headquarters at Cronulla Park.
Mr Mulherin today confirmed the Government’s strong support for a stand-alone racing facility at Logan and said he anticipated RQL would have details of a revised Industry Infrastructure Plan to submit to Government by the end of the week.
Continue reading Logan To Be The New Home Of Greyhound Headquarters In Queensland
Queensland Greyhound Racing To Receive Fairer Consideration From Racing Queensland
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) today confirmed it would immediately begin talks with greyhound stakeholders in an effort to progress new Greyhound Racing infrastructure.
RQL chairman Bob Bentley said private harness racing interests have to date held back the greyhound industry from building a new home away from Albion Park.
“The crippling delay to the greyhound industry is no longer tolerable,” said Mr Bentley.
Continue reading Queensland Greyhound Racing To Receive Fairer Consideration From Racing Queensland
Queensland Greyhound Of The Year Finalists Announced
Bogie King, Dashing Corsair and He Knows Uno were today named as the three finalists for the title of 2011 Queensland Greyhound of the Year.
It was a stellar year for Queensland greyhounds on the racetrack with a significant number of individual Group race winners and local greyhounds winning both the National Sprint and Distance titles.
Each of the three finalists produced outstanding performances during 2011.
Continue reading Queensland Greyhound Of The Year Finalists Announced
Dyna Tron And Spring Gun Get Best Of Brisbane Cup Draw
In what is shaping up to be one the highlight races of the year, the box draw for the 2011 Sky Channel Group 1 Brisbane Cup final has been released.
After overcoming box seven to land the Melbourne Cup last month, Dyan Tron again looks hard to beat after coming up with the coveted rails alley. Starting a very short favourite in last Thursday’s heat, Dyna Tron began well and accounted for his rivals easily in 30.04.
Despite the amazing recent form line, the Andrea Dailly trained Dyna Tron has had the rough end of box draws recently. His last four wins (all feature events) have been from box four and outwards, and his record from the pole position is impeccable, winning four from six attempts.
Continue reading Dyna Tron And Spring Gun Get Best Of Brisbane Cup Draw
Brisbane Cup Turns Up The Heat
Brisbane’s favourite blue collar sport, Greyhound Racing, will tonight showcase the most hotly contested Group 1 Brisbane Cup heats in recent memory.
The best greyhounds from across Australia will set the Albion Park Raceway alight in pursuit of the Group 1 SKY Racing Brisbane Cup and $75,000 first prize.
The five heats of the Cup involve 23 Queensland and 17 interstate greyhounds.
Continue reading Brisbane Cup Turns Up The Heat
Move Over Melbourne, It’s Brisbane Cup Time
With the Sandown Superdog series over for another year, it’s time to focus further north with the 2011 Group 1 Sky Channel Brisbane Cup kicking off this Thursday at Albion Park.
Five heats of the prestigious event are scheduled, and the depth of talent is arguably the best seen in Brisbane for many years.
Runners from NSW, Victoria and Western Australia have made the trip north to tackle the locals who will no doubt be hard to beat once again.
Continue reading Move Over Melbourne, It’s Brisbane Cup Time
Anthony Hess Disqualified For 3 Months For Prednisilone Positive
Racing Queensland Stewards (Greyhounds) last week conducted an Inquiry into the results of a urine sample taken from the greyhound Program Control prior to it racing at Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club on Friday 16 September 2011.
At the inquiry evidence was taken from the greyhound’s trainer Mr. Anthony Hess.
After considering the evidence provided before the stewards at the inquiry Mr. Anthony Hess was charged with breaching Greyhounds Australasia Rule 83 (1) which reads as follows:
Continue reading Anthony Hess Disqualified For 3 Months For Prednisilone Positive
Identity Cards & Microchips Replace Registration Papers In Queensland Greyhounds
Since April 2010 all greyhounds whelped in Queensland have been microchipped and a microchip number assigned to all records in relation to those dogs. However to date microchip identification has not been used as the basis for nominating or racing dogs.
This will now change and all dogs that are to be named, transferred, registered, nominated or raced in Queensland will require microchipping. Stewards will commence test scanning for microchips and advising trainers on the requirements from 1st December 2011.
Racing Queensland will make available microchipping services at major centres in December and if needed in January for a fee of $20. If you wish to attend a Microchipping session you must bring a Naming Application or Racing Certificate for each greyhound.
Continue reading Identity Cards & Microchips Replace Registration Papers In Queensland Greyhounds
Capalaba Greyhound Meeting Abandoned
Due to ongoing issues with the reliable operation of the lure at Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club (CGRC) the meeting scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 2011 has been abandoned on the advice of Racing Queensland stewards.
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) will however conduct a â€phantom’ meeting next Saturday with free entry, catering, bar, bookmaker and totalisator services operational for the away thoroughbred meetings.
It is anticipated that an operable lure will be in place for the scheduled Capalaba meeting on Saturday, November 19 at which the Capalaba Cup heats will now take place. Cup nominations will close with RQL at 8.30am on Tuesday, November 15. The Capalaba Cup final will now be rescheduled to Saturday, November 26.
Continue reading Capalaba Greyhound Meeting Abandoned
Racing Queensland To Hold Public Information Sessions Over Deagon Racing Proposal
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) today announced a series of public information sessions to be held at its Deagon headquarters on Friday, November 25.
Chief executive officer Malcolm Tuttle said the information sessions would be designed to step interested parties through RQL’s plans for redevelopment of its Deagon base which were lodged with Brisbane City Council on October 3, 2011.
“We anticipate the public comment period which occurs as part of the lodgement process will run from early December to February 2012 giving the local Community and industry participants plenty of time to form their views on the plan that has been submitted for consideration,” Mr Tuttle said.
Continue reading Racing Queensland To Hold Public Information Sessions Over Deagon Racing Proposal
Time For Ministers To Act
How typical is the unrest in Queensland? We have now heard, first from an apparently unofficial QGOBTA representative, a plea for a new broom to sweep aside the current regime, followed by a well attended industry protest meeting at Deagon to set aside the Racing Queensland “decision” to build a new racing complex there, and then a meeting to set up a new organisation, the United Qld Greyhound Association, sponsored by some very heavy hitters in the local game. The UQGA wants a “new industry direction”
Plans prepared at some expense for Albion Park and Deagon by Racing Queensland supremo Bob Bentley have been rubbished by the man who has to approve them – Brisbane’s Lord Mayor. Earlier, but equally expensive, plans for a greyhound development at Logan, to the south of Brisbane, have been tossed into the waste bin.
The Liberal National Party, likely to gain power soon, has supported the protests and effectively given Bob Bentley notice. It would also disband the tricode administrative system, returning authority to each of the three codes individually.
The protesters have a point. The quality of SEQ racing has been declining steadily for some years now – note the increasing proportion of maiden and novice races and the introduction of 331m squibs’ races at Albion Park. Several tracks have closed over the last decade for mainly economic reasons while the one-turn Gold Coast track has not been replaced, nor it is clear where the promised $10 million compensation has gone.
Plainly, Albion Park is dying if not dead. It’s grandstand is condemned, it is flood prone and the dual ownership by harness and greyhound codes does not work well. For one thing, re-arranging messy parts of the greyhound circuit is impossible while harness people refuse permission to infringe on training tracks used by pacers.
On the other hand, the planned Logan move looked promising. It had local support and was applauded by most greyhound folk. However, it depended for finance on the sale of greyhound’s half of Albion Park. That was never going to be easy as the trots wanted to stay there and they had no way of generating the necessary buyout funds. Indeed, their own future is clouded by the code’s declining fortunes as well as by uncertainty about zoning. Messy again.
There is a bigger question. Are Queenslanders just unhappy with the personalities involved and their ideas or is it the nature of the system that is at fault?
The concept of management by committee – whose members are generally government-appointed – complicates the operation of every racing entity in the country, whether club or state authority, and no matter what the code. Not only does that structure slow down decision making, it also ensures the lowest common denominator persists. The theme often becomes “I wanted you in the team, mate, but they voted me down”. Indeed, can anyone name a single successful industry that is managed by a committee?
Again in every code, progress is hampered when national bodies, which are also committees, lack the power to act, even if the will is there (which is doubtful).
In some cases – NSW is a prime example but Queensland was never entirely pure – board members are hopelessly conflicted because to their dual affiliations to a club or club group as well as to the state at large. Justice will never be seen to be done.
In others – WA and Tasmania – the state government plays a more direct role. Ironically, those two are doing reasonably well but they are also beneficiaries of government largesse in one way or another. Tasmania gets a heavy input from commissions from the locally headquartered Betfair while WA has a free run (in comparative terms) due to the absence of poker machines in every suburb. Admittedly, it also does a good job of promoting the “evening out” at Cannington, which has the nation’s highest attendances. Back in Victoria, racing’s fortunes have long been boosted by bonus commissions from state poker machine takings.
It is only when nasty things happen that weaknesses come to the fore. In that event, it has become normal for the players – ie owners and trainers – to call for “more dog men on the board”, meaning more direct action.
This is odd, for I have never heard a trainer mention that he has got enough time on his hands to devote to running the industry. After all, they have a 24/7 job already.
In any event, being a brilliant trainer is no indication that you will be a great racing manager. The skills are hardly the same.
The swinger in all this is attitude of the local racing Minister and his Cabinet and, just as important, the Australian Racing Ministers Council (hell, there’s two more committees).
Either way, an inescapable truth is that racing’s organisational structures are over 50 years old. No wonder it can’t cope in the modern world. Just look at the mess it got itself into with Betfair and NT bookmakers. That has constituted a major disservice to the industry’s customers.
It is up to the various Ministers to recognise that fact and to bring about meaningful reform. To gauge what to do they have only to look at a range of other sporting organisations, sort out the wheat from the chaff and charge ahead with the best of them.
Oh, and they should also ignore any advice from their Treasurers. They never get it right as they are so busy bean counting that they lose sight of the future.
Lord Mayor’s Public Meeting Folly Without Facts
Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk should abandon a planned public meeting to be held on Sunday, October 16 until he has been properly briefed on vital plans that have the potential to deliver a brighter future for Queensland’s racing industry.
Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) chairman Bob Bentley today said the Lord Mayor was putting the cart before the horse by holding a public meeting without having been briefed by RQL on the full detail of its Industry Infrastructure Plan.
“What on Earth is the Lord Mayor thinking? We have tried repeatedly since June to give Cr Quirk the facts on the RQL’s Industry Infrastructure Plan and in particular issues surrounding both Deagon and Albion Park yet he seems to have a case of selective hearing when it comes to listening to both sides of this discussion,” Mr Bentley said.
Continue reading Lord Mayor’s Public Meeting Folly Without Facts
Agreement Reached On Townsville Greyhound Vision Fencing Issue
Racing Queensland today met with representatives of the Townsville Greyhound Racing Club and the Townsville Pastoral Agricultural & Industrial Association (TPAIA), to discuss the fence erected in the infield area of the greyhound track that has obscured views of the greyhound track.
The meeting was very productive and delivered an amicable resolution to the current issue.
Racing Queensland chairman Mr Bob Bentley said: “Today’s meeting delivered a positive outcome that saw the TPAIA confirm that the fencing that impedes vision to the greyhound track will be collapsed following the conduct of the speedway event on September 23 and 24, 2011.”
Continue reading Agreement Reached On Townsville Greyhound Vision Fencing Issue
National Champ Off To The Shaky Isles
Reigning National Sprint Champion, Metz Magic, is one of four greyhounds heading to New Zealand for the final of the Sister Cities Cup. With a AUD$20,000 first prize, and another $14,000 being dedicated for the placings, it is certainly worth the trip for connections.
It was somewhat disappointing however to see only one heat of seven being run for the Queensland leg of the series, after South Australia held two heats on the Monday night prior.
Ron Ball’s newest track star was a clear favourite to take out the single heat, and he didn’t disappoint with another strong performance in 30.02. Again having to come from within the pack, Metz Magic’s winning strike rate is now looking more impressive by the week, and it could be two feature race victories in only ten lifetime starts if he performs at his best in NZ.
Continue reading National Champ Off To The Shaky Isles
