Letsgohorseracing - QLD & REST

Details: Published: 29 October 2012; Created: 29 October 2012

QUEENSLAND'S racing industry bled almost $14 million last financial year under the direction of a board that included controversial former boss Bob Bentley and Labor powerbroker Bill Ludwig.

The size of the loss has been laid bare for the first time in a letter, obtained by The Courier-Mail, from the new Racing Queensland Limited chairman Kevin Dixon to Racing Minister Steve Dickson.

The $13.891 million consolidated loss is far worse than anticipated by the racing industry and follows the demise of the controversial Bentley era after a change of state government earlier in the year.

Details: Published: 25 October 2012; Created: 25 October 2012

THE Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) today announced the appointment of Mr Neville Bell as Chairman to its Board of Directors.

Mr Bell has been appointed to replace Mr Bill Sexton, who retired as Chair today but who will continue as a Director.

Details: Published: 23 October 2012; Created: 23 October 2012

THE Queensland Racehorse Owners' Association is urging Racing Queensland to rethink its priorities if it is serious about sustaining and growing racing in Queensland.

"Metropolitan and Provincial prizemoney levels are critical to a sustainable racing industry in Queensland," said QROA President, Kerrina King.

"Currently Queensland owners are voting with their feet and sixty percent of starters in Northern NSW are Queensland owned horses."

Details: Published: 19 October 2012; Created: 19 October 2012

THE Brisbane Racing Club has reported a loss of almost $1.2 million for the financial year 2011-2012 compared to a profit of over $270,000 for the previous period.

Chairman Bill Sexton in his annual report noted ‘that before depreciation of almost $2.5 million, the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization recorded by the club was a profit of almost $1.3 million.'

“The financial results of the club continue to be challenged by reduced attendances, the standard of facilities, competition for discretionary entertainment spend and the existing economic climate.

Details: Published: 18 October 2012; Created: 18 October 2012

BRISBANE jockey Andrew Spinks has spoken out to publicly defend his reputation after he was this week slapped with a four-week ban for not giving a horse full opportunity to win at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

BRAD DAVIDSON reports in the GOLD COAST BULLETIN that Spinks conceded he made a "bad error of judgment" and pleaded guilty to breaking law AR135(b) which states the rider of every horse shall take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that his horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.

Details: Published: 13 October 2012; Created: 13 October 2012

QUEENSLAND Thoroughbred Breeders' Association President, Basil Nolan has warned that lives will be put at risk if the State Government proceeds with its plans to close the Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory in Toowoomba.

“I believe that the closure of this regional laboratory poses a real risk to biosecurity in Queensland and to the equine industry in this state,” said Mr Nolan.

While the TBQA understands that it is the government position to outsource routine diagnostics procedures to the private sector, it is of utmost importance that Government funded surveillance work for exotic and emerging equine disease continues.

Details: Published: 09 October 2012; Created: 09 October 2012

RACING Queensland officials have jumped at the opportunity to bag websites for publishing rumors circulating in the industry from late last week that the top stable of Tony Gollan had not one – but two – positive swabs.

This could easily have been stamped out by RQ stewards simply issuing a Media Release declaring that the rumors were incorrect and that at that stage there was no case to answer by any top stable. That would have simply ended the speculation.

Details: Published: 08 October 2012; Created: 08 October 2012

RACING Queensland Limited (RQL) has identified the need for a club development resource to improve its connection to race clubs across the three racing codes and develop a prosperous club operation model.

Following an extensive recruitment process, RQL is pleased to announce Lucy McIntosh has commenced in the role of club development officer within RQL’s commercial & racing development function.

Details: Published: 08 October 2012; Created: 08 October 2012

MACKAY jockey David Simmons has been suspended for three weeks after an investigation into the fall of fellow jockey Jeffrey Felix at Mackay in July.

Stewards concluded their inquiry before and after the last race at Townsville today (Tuesday).

Simmons who pleaded not guilty to the charge does not intend to appeal.

Details: Published: 07 September 2012; Created: 07 September 2012

THE Bob Bentley Board has denied claims that Racing Queensland was left ‘financially fly-blown’ when they resigned in the wake of the LNP election win.

Former Board members including Chairman Bentley, his deputy Tony Hanmer, Labor heavyweight Bill Ludwig and Wayne Milner are incensed by industry suggestions that the cupboard was bare when they left RQL in April.

They claim it is impossible to get their side of the story across in the mainstream media because of the close ties between new RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon and Courier-Mail Racing Editor Bart Sinclair.