RACING Queensland officials are in Cairns today (Tuesday) hosting a regional consultation meeting as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to develop a plan for the future of racing in the state.
It comes as an online discussion paper was made available last week to industry participants and the wider public to have their say on racing in Queensland’s future.
Minister for Racing Bill Byrne said country racing played an important role in regional Queensland and the consultation meetings, including today’s consultation in Cairns, had provided an opportunity for clubs and stakeholder groups from across the state to contribute to the plan.
RACING Queensland will launch a new Cannonball Series and follow up last year’s popular Provincial Series in a huge spring of racing beginning on October 3.
The newly-developed Cannonball Series will cater for Queensland’s sprinting stocks with five heats over 800m spread between Kilcoy, Ipswich and Warwick. The series will then culminate in a $30,000 final at Kilcoy on December 6.
Read more: NEW SERIES - RQ ISN'T FIRING KING KEV OUT OF A CANNON
QUEENSLAND Hall of Fame trainer Tom Dawson has died aged 98.
MARK OBERHARDT reports for AAP that Dawson was inducted to the Hall of Fame last year which emphasised his outstanding ability as he rarely had more than a dozen horses in work.
RACING Queensland offers its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Tony Price, who passed away at the weekend.
Mr Price, who was inducted into the Queensland Harness Racing Hall of Fame last year, was a highly respected racing administrator, breeder and owner.
THE Palaszczuk Government has today delivered for racing, jobs and certainty in approving funds for the second phase of the Eagle Farm racecourse development.
Minister for Sport and Racing Bill Byrne said getting racing back at Queensland’s premier race course was good for the racing industry, the state and for creating jobs.
THE Gold Coast City Council has approved a development application for a Harness Racing Facility in Alberton to the North of the City.
Gold Coast Harness Racing President, Mr Barry Grimsey said “this will be the start of a whole new era for Harness Racing in Queensland and for the development of a truly sustainable model for sport facility development that will take financial pressure off Government”.
ALARMING facts concerning the financial state of Racing Queensland have been unearthed by KPMG within one day of the sacking of all the Boards.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has told Parliament that the losses could blow out to $11 million by the end of this financial year and to $21 million next year.
Here is here statement to the House today:
READERS have asked tha we provide as much coverage as possible of the demise of the Kevin Dixon era in Racing Queensland in the wake of the greyhound live-baiting scandal.
The Labor Government has led the way in Australia by dismissed all racing boards and taking extreme integrity measures to clean up not ony greyhound racing but ensure the overall industry is better placed for the future.
Here is the debate from this morning's session of Parliament in Brisbane, courtesy of Hansard:
THE police taskforce investigating greyhound live baiting in Queensland has warned the industry it expects to make many more arrests.
COURTNEY WILSON reports for ABC NEWS that the industry is nervously awaiting a report from the Queensland Government's commission of inquiry into the scandal, which is due on Monday.
THE next piece of the 2015 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap puzzle has been put in place after Racing Queensland released the weights for the time-honoured event this morning.
Following an emphatic victory on Saturday, Doomben 10,000 winner Boban for Chris Waller has been allocated the top weight of 58kg, while the Darren Weir-trained Lucky Hussler has been allocated 56kgs.