Country races dealt "severe" compliance reports by Racing Queensland

The Country Racing Advisory Panel will meet with Racing Queensland representatives today (Thursday) in Brisbane to discuss the issues facing country race meetings. 

It comes as the Noorama Picnic Races, south of Cunnamulla, and the Maxwelton Races, near Richmond, were both cancelled recently due to poor track conditions.

The decision was that of stewards from the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC), an independent statutory body formed in July 2016 who monitor racing activities and advise Queensland Racing.

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Downs Country Racing Association chairman Peter Flynn said he and South East representative Lyle Murray and Graham Rewald, Eastern Downs had been in discussions with Queensland racing audit and Workplace Health and Safety representatives as to how they could ease the burden on one-day race meetings. 

“Some issues relate to tracks, a couple of races have been cancelled lately in country racing due to the state of the track,” he said. 

“A number of areas where facilities for jockeys and stewards are in a situation where they need upgrading.

“A couple of the clubs have financial issues that need to be addressed.”

Among those affected, the Surat Diggers Race Club have been told their jockey and steward facilities are not up to standard and are too small for their maximum race start capacity of 12 rides.

Club secretary Margaret Neill said they had made an application to Racing Queensland for funds to assist with the required construction before their only race meet in 2017 set to be held in September.

“We have to try and find a builder to build a deck or whatever we need, new facilities,” she said.

“Whether they see a place like Surat which only races once a year, if that is a fair investment is the question.

“The fun has gone out of the country racing today for small clubs.”

She said there were ongoing requirements after the building improvements that “needed to be brought up to scratch” for Racing Queensland over the next 36 months. 

Organisers of the Quilpie Centenary Cup on Saturday faced a different challenge.

A $65,000 prize pool was on offer, the dirt track was at its best and the crowd filled the $1.5m trackside facilities but jockeys were still being sourced 24 hours before the event.

Eventually eight jockeys travelled from Mackay, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Chinchilla and Roma while jockey Paul Hamblin came from Warrnambool, Victoria after racing there two days earlier.

Mr Flynn said it was an issue state wide and in a society where the average weight of people had increased it was becoming difficult to keep jockeys light weight and to entice them to the industry. 

Quilpie Diggers Race Club patron, track coordinator and race horse owner Trevor Mead said their event had clashed with Longreach races and horse nominations were down with just four rides in the main race.

“It’s very difficult to be in a situation where you have got a number of horses and a number of jockeys that do race in both areas,” he said.

“We can’t afford to clash with Longreach again. We hoped the big prize money ($65,000) would attract them here but it hasn’t worked, so what do you do?”

His concerns were echoed by club president Brian Donovan who will discuss a ‘plan B’ with the committee and a possible change of date with Racing Queensland officials.

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said it was important governments maintained support for country racing events.

“The state government that legislates the state racing needs to understand the importance of this,” Mr Littleproud said.

“While they may not make as much money themselves out of the Quilpie races they will be saving a lot in terms of the mental health benefits this gives to people in the outback.”