MANY stakeholders and long-time followers of racing in Queensland breathed a collective sigh of relief to learn that Racing Queensland Chairman Matt McGrath would not be applying for the job of Chief Executive Officer.
His new spin doctor ‘Big Ben’ Dorries reported for the Murdoch Media that McGrath had squashed speculation that he was in the running for the job that he has annointed his interim CEO Lachlan Murray to secure.
Problem is LGHR talks to many sections of the industry and receives emails from the racing public and punters on a daily basis but this was the first we had heard of any speculation about McGrath getting the CEO role.
Then again Dorries mixes in different circles to us – one where we have no need or desire to gain Brownie Points. One thing we do know is that the appointment of McGrath as RQ Chairman was one of the most unpopular by Tim Mander since he took over as Racing Minister.
Not only is M & M – as he has become affectionately know – based in Sydney but the critics insist there were several high profile identities in Queensland much better suited to do the job (with more knowledge of the local industry) than McGrath has.
Then there are those – not including LGHR – who have accused McGrath of setting himself up for the job when he did the Racing Review which to this stage has in the eyes of many achieved next to nothing.
Murray, regarded as a ‘lightweight’ by many in the industry who have dealt with him, had his interim role as CEO ridiculously extended until the end of the year. We understand there is a good field in for his job, including one high profile racing figure who – if the selection process is fair – Murray could not hope to beat. Surely there is another position – dealing with the bookies for instance – that the ‘Bike Rider’ is better suited to.
And as for McGrath, well it is LGHR’s understanding that the current administrative structure of RQ does not permit an Executive Chairman even though M & M told Dorries: “I’m happy doing the role that I’m doing and I won’t be applying for the CEO role.”
“I’m looking forward to the process which will find the best (CEO) candidate.” Well if that’s the case why is he kicking up behind the scenes for Murray when he must know the credentials of another candidate who has international credentials?
Lachlan Murray’s tenure as acting chief executive of Racing Queensland was extended in May – he will continue in the role until December 31 this year. The new appointment should have been made by now. Stop pussy-footing around Mr Minister!
Murray was first named Interim CEO following the departure of previous chief executive Jason Scott in mid 2025 when he reportedly returned to working for the corporate bookmaking brigade from where he found Murray (an old mate we understand).
Standby for another surprise when the Government finally gets around to separating the three codes – a recommendation of the McGrath Review. It’s a strange decision considering the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission is to be virtually dismantled because it costs too much. The reason the three codes were combined by the previous Labor Government was to save costs and avoid duplication of services. Concerns over what will happen to Integrity of Queensland racing when there is no separation of powers from administration was the main reason we lost Deputy Commissioner Kim Kelly.
WILL PETER GLEESON RETURN TO KEY ROLE WITH GREYHOUND INDUSTRY?
INTERESTINGLY, Kelly could not see eye-to-eye with the ideas being promoted by McGrath (the industry is still waiting to see what Mary Collyer recommended to the Minister on those). But another key figure in the greyhound industry which blames former CEO Scott for his demise is predicted to make an unexpected comeback.
Peter Gleeson, whose tenure to run the $85mn ‘The Q’ racing complex, was over almost before it began, has been tipped to be the Chairman of the new Queensland Greyhound Racing Board. His experience in greyhound racing and love for the sport certainly makes him a good fit for the job.
The prominent media identity and Editor of The Sunday Mail before the Murdoch Media cut ties with him, resigned from his post in early 2025, just six months after taking the reins of the ‘The Q’.
Following Gleeson’s appointment to that ‘basket case’ job, tensions had continued to escalate between factions from both the Brisbane GRC and Ipswich GRC, now operating under the one QGRC umbrella.
Those tensions reached boiling point when a petition was circulated in a bid to drum up support for an under-siege Gleeson as whispers grew that the club’s caretaker committee was maneuvering to replace him.
It was reported that some members of the committee, Eleanor Wallace, Wade Core and Merv Page, even signed the petition in support of Gleeson as the club’s long term CEO despite the backdoor rumblings. Gleeson walked away from the job with a handsome compensation package.
Since his depature ‘Gleeso’ has been working outside the industry but with close connections to the Crisafulli Government. Although it would appear his allegiances are with the LNP, LGHR can recall the time he was offered the job as CEO of Racing Queensland when Darren Condon was thrown under the bus in the wake of the greyhound industry debacle. He knocked back a ‘name your own price’ offer from Premier Anastasia.
