Kibble and Biscuits Mick's Happy with Townsville ... - Greyhound-Data

Albion Park relocation... or not!Well! Well! Well! I have heard it all.* The preferred option of the GRA andHarness Board is to relocate the current tracktowards the back of the current complex withthe redevelopment of the front of the complexto fund the relocation.* The Brisbane City Council wants theGreyhound and Trotting track relocated andthe complex used for “high density”development.* The part owners of the complex namelythe Greyhound racing Licensees, have notbeen officially consulted on any of theproposals.The GRA needs to call an industrymeeting to update the licensees of the optionsand proposals as soon as possible.If the GRA preferred option goes ahead,I will guarantee within 3-4 years the ownersof the “high density” development, viaWorkplace Health and Safety issues, willforce out the greyhounds and the trots.We will then have to relocate.The QGBOTA is in favour of moving toa new purpose-built greyhound complex.Let’s control our own destiny and makethe move now ... on our own!Monday Night MaidensFollowing discussions with licensees andin an endeavor to promote 520m races atAlbion Park it has been suggested the 520mmaidens on a Monday night be scrapped toRay Burmanmake way for 520m Fifth grade or other graderaces. Currently there are three Maidens heldeach Monday with prizemoney of $400 forthe winner while graded dogs miss out on anopportunity to win $2000 in first prizemoney.While this is a good financial bonanza forthe club to be saving over $1600 for each ofthese three races, the industry is potentiallyshortchanged $375,000 per year.The proposal to rectify this situationwould be to have the 520m maidens promotedand held on a Friday afternoon, hopefullygetting four heats with a final to be held onthe following Thursday night.Prizemoney for the final to be the sameas a Fifth grade on a Monday night, namely$2000 to the winner.I believe this proposal should beimplemented by the Albion Park club ASAP.If you agree, contact the club and pushfor the implementation of the proposal.Queensland Bred Incentive SchemeFollowing representation to the GRA ithas been confirmed that starting 1/7/06 therewill be a breeding incentive scheme. Detailsare being fine tuned.GBOTA NewsNext MeetingThe next meeting will be held at the oldLawnton track on Sunday September 18following the AGM which starts at 11am.Annual General MeetingThe annual General Meeting of theQGBOTA has been scheduled for SundaySeptember 18 starting at 11 am at the oldLawnton track.The official notification of the AGM willbe forwarded shortly. Only current membersat the time of the AGM will be eligible toVote or become members of the committee.Membership RenewalsMembership renewal forms for the 2005-06 year have been forwarded to all members,please complete and return as quickly aspossible to PO Box 1064 Capalaba, 4157.Response by the ChairThe Albion Park Raceway is owned by the two control bodies as tenants in common. Adecision to dispose of the property or any part of it would need to be made by both controlbodies and with the approval of the Queensland Government.The evaluation study is not completed at this stage and until it is, there is no hard datato put to the industry and to the government.With regard to the abolishing of maiden races on Monday night and the introduction ofonly graded races, I regret to inform the industry that the Brisbane Club and the GRA donot have the necessary funds to acceded to this. If graded only races were to be held, themeeting would have to revert to a Class 2 meeting and there would be a resultant decreasein prizemoney paid to participants on all races.Secretary's NotesIPSWICHAs a result of a direct clash with theLismore Cup series, the club has taken thedecision to reschedule the dates for thereintroduction of the Derby and Futurity atIpswich.The heats for both races will now takeplace on September 13 with the finalsprogrammed for September 20.This is one week later than advised in lastmonth’s Journal.As the event had already been advertisedthe club has taken the decision to have thedate from which the age eligibility will betaken as September 1. This is the date thatnominations would have closed if the heatswould have been run on September 6.The club believes it is not in the bestinterests of owners and trainers for directclashes to occur with major races andtherefore this decision has been taken.Details for these series are listed in theJournal race calendar.The Derby and Futurity series are ideallead-up races for the $10,000 to the winnerYoung Gun Series. Heats will take place over520 metres on September 27 with the finalon October 4.Owners and trainers with young up-andcominggreyhounds be sure to pencil theseraces into your program.Intrastate and interstate owners andtrainers wishing to contest any of our raceseries are asked to contact the club if yourequire any assistance regardingaccommodation, kennelling or trialing. Pleasebe assured that we are here to help you raceat Ipswich.As the Highland Smash Repair PuppyAuction draws nearer, people can obtaincatalogues by contacting the club. WithAustralia’s leading sires and dam linesrepresented it is certainly a quality gatheringof young greyhounds.With pups purchased through the auctioneligible for a two race series over 520m and431m, buying a pup on Sunday October 9 isa great way to be involved in our industry.New sponsor, WJC Private Stud, who willbe selling pups at the upcoming auction, hasdonated to the club a pup which is nominatedfor the auction. Proceeds from the sale of thispup will be donated in full to local charity.The cub would like to thank studmasterWarren Cunningham for his generosity andask people to dig a little deeper when biddingon this pup.Details of the pup will be announced innext month’s Journal and also on the day ofthe auction.Recently two club committee membersFee$660had the opportunity to meet with seniormanagement from Sky Channel to discuss anumber of wide ranging issues. Although nofirm outcomes were resolved the door hasbeen left open for further correspondence.We believe we left them with no doubt asto our commitment to Saturday night racingand the benefit it would provide to ourindustry in Queensland. They will only haveto think about offering us the opportunity andwe will pounce.We are hoping to have Sky Channelmanagement attend one of our upcomingmajor events to experience racing at our club.Claiming races have now been approvedby the Board and we are interested as to theindustries opinion of these events. We believethe best measure is to program a race and letyou vote with yours nominations.Owned by Pat HennessyPh (02) 66725183email cheechville@optusnet.com.,au(Awesome Assassin-Highland Bride)Flying ScottInterested parties please do not forget tovote. Terms and conditions for these racescan be obtained at the club or GRA.The distance challenge series between theGold Coast club and Ipswich has been poorlysupported by owners and trainers. As a resultthe club has taken the decision to discontinuethis series after the September race.These series were introduced to providea platform to bring young stayers through thegrades with the opportunity to race forincreased prizemoney. It sounded like a goodidea on paper but has had little support inpractice.WON 25Alb PkWenty PkSandownMeadowsChaseSpeedStaminaCould win fromanywhere ... onany track!The (September, 2005) Journal Page 31