Harness Racing is dying a slow death in Queensland. [Archive]

View Full Version : Harness Racing is dying a slow death in Queensland.

scottbarnard

03-30-2011, 11:08 AM

As has been well documented, the sport is in dire trouble in Queensland. Racing Queensland's agenda is very clear. Two decisions this week not directly related to Harness Racing demonstrate what lies ahead - Capalaba Greyhound Racing track is to close as is Bundaberg Race Club. The next to go in Harness Racing will probably be Redcliffe, since under Bentley's plan it is to be made a non TAB track ( which means it will close ). What next? Bring on the next state election:mad:

Camber on the bend

03-31-2011, 01:42 AM

Is this really happening up in QLD?

Not so long ago that big owner bloke was meant to be redeveloping it all. I can remember some talk about they racing for $25,000 in metropolitan races. Now the sport is on its knees.

triplev123

03-31-2011, 07:29 PM

At the next State Election, QLD Harness Racing participants & fans need to make certain they put a bloody great broom through the bastards currently occupying the building on the corner of George & Alice.
Make specific note of the following Electorates & be sure to kick the current sitting Member from the ALP to the kirb. It's as easy as that.
Mount Ommaney (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=61 ','600','500'))
South Brisbane (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=73 ','600','500'))
Cairns (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=17 ','600','500'))
Capalaba (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=20 ','600','500'))
Broadwater (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=9' ,'600','500'))
Sandgate (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=72 ','600','500'))
Greenslopes (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=34 ','600','500'))
Bulimba (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=10 ','600','500'))
Yeerongpilly (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=89 ','600','500'))
Mount Coot-tha (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=58 ','600','500'))
Brisbane Central (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=8' ,'600','500'))
Stafford (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=10 0','600','500'))
Keppel (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=45 ','600','500'))
Whitsunday (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=87 ','600','500'))
Townsville (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=82 ','600','500'))
Ashgrove (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=3' ,'600','500'))
Albert (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=1' ,'600','500'))
Mount Isa (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=60 ','600','500'))
Chatsworth (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=22 ','600','500'))
Southport (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=74 ','600','500'))
Lytton (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=49 ','600','500'))
Pine Rivers (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=10 8','600','500'))
Logan (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=48 ','600','500'))
Bundamba (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=12 ','600','500'))
Waterford (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=85 ','600','500'))
Mackay (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=50 ','600','500'))
Mundingburra (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=63 ','600','500'))
Ipswich (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=41 ','600','500'))
Cook (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=26 ','600','500'))
Kallangur (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=43 ','600','500'))
Inala (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=39 ','600','500'))
Mulgrave (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=62 ','600','500'))
Mansfield (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=51 ','600','500'))
Nudgee (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=68 ','600','500'))
Stretton (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=10 1','600','500'))
Morayfield (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=10 7','600','500'))
Rockhampton (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=71 ','600','500'))
Woodridge (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=88 ','600','500'))
Toowoomba North (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=80 ','600','500'))
Burleigh (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=14 ','600','500'))
Sunnybank (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=10 9','600','500'))
Springwood (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=75 ','600','500'))
Algester (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=90 ','600','500'))
Pumicestone (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=97 ','600','500'))
Redcliffe (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=69 ','600','500'))
Thuringowa (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=79 ','600','500'))
Everton (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=30 ','600','500'))
Murrumba (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=64 ','600','500'))
Ipswich West (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=42 ','600','500'))
Barron River (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=6' ,'600','500'))
Ferny Grove (http://javascript:OpenRezizeWindow('member_contactDetails.asp?EO=31 ','600','500'))

That will duly leave old mate Bob with nowhere to go.

Flashing Red

04-05-2011, 11:28 PM

Triple V (and anyone else)
Can you please list everything you don't like about Bentley, why he isn't good for Qld Harness Racing and I will endevour to reply to each point to show the other side of the coin - or indeed clear up lies/myths :)

Flashing Red

04-05-2011, 11:29 PM

And I agree Qld is dying a slow death. A barn at Menangle is looking more and more and more attractive by the minute. :)

triplev123

04-06-2011, 11:30 AM

Geeze Flashing, you're way too nice a person for me to go too hard on this one.
As in List those aspects over an above what are for mine his rather obvious leanings toward the TB Industry & the QLD Labor Party?
That makes him 2 for 2 in my book. If he were also a strong proponent of a Carbon Dioxide Tax introduction...he'd land the Trifecta.
Please don't bring up religion. ;);););)

Flashing Red

04-06-2011, 12:21 PM

lmao, I don't support Labor one iota, but I do like Bentley. :) I will get back to you today (double checking I have my own facts right) on reasons why he isn't out to destory harness racing, despite coming from a thoroughbred background. People can take it or leave it with what I say. In saying that, with some of the backlash he has recieved from some misinformed harness circles, I wouldn't be surprised (or blame him) for kicking us to the curb :(

Hopefully next year, once uni is over, I can get some stalls at Menangle. I really think we are going down the gurgler now, it is such a shame because we have this awesome proposal that keeps hitting brick walls :( Its a shame because I love living in Queensland, but I love harness racing more. If that means a move, then so be it!! :)

Flashing Red

04-10-2011, 01:21 PM

I'm going to send you a PM with more detail Triplev, but for the benefit of the forum...

As we all know, prizemoney for races is a percentage of the turnover for each code. Queensland trots currently has 14% locked in but only until the agreement ends, which is next year. Now, if Bentley remains the head of Racing Queensland, with Queensland coming under one umbrella, he can control the prizemoney distribution. He he stated that he will leave it the same. Why is this good? Because next year, based on the turnover on harness races, we would have gone down to 10%, with the dogs getting an extra 2% the gallops getting an extra 2%. That means that the dogs would be allocated more money than us, for animals that are 1/8th of the expense to keep! Now, I wouldn't be surprised with the unwarranted backlash that Bentley has received, if he basically said screw us all and distribute the prizemoney how it should be per the turnover for each code. However, prizemoney is going to stay the same - Bentley would not do this if he was out to screw trotting.

Redcliffe has been having some troubles lately, but there was a meeting not two long ago where two financial backers have stepped forward to help out and working in conjunctions with Queensland Racing Redcliffe now gets to keep their meetings. I was not personally at the meeting but I believe all sides of the coin were listened to and without much fuss it has been sorted out for now. I understand once (and if) Deagon is built Redcliffe is to be a training centre, but Deagon is only approx. 15 mins away from Redcliffe for what will be a superior track. It's not very far away for Redcliffe participants to travel. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made, but it will be maintained and kept as a training centre. Hopefully some racing (maybe restricted meetings??) can be run there still, but time will tell.

The initial industry plan saw the removal of the thoroughbreds from Deagon completely. If Bentley was anti-trotting, there would be no way he would upset all the galloping folk there for us. I do believe there has been some backlash from the gallopers about there removal. I think they are trying to come up for a way for them to at least be able to jog there. Like Redcliffe, there are many houses in the area with stables at the back. The idea was to move these people and their horses to the Sunshine Coast facility. I'm not sure what is happening with the gallopers, but regardless the plan is still for it to be a harness and greyhound racing precinct. Unlike Albion Park, Deagon is also very easy to get to, no matter where you are coming from, North or South, it is straight off the motorway. Much easier than driving through some parts of the city for Albion Park.

Another thing, the industry is no longer recognising the decisions of BOTRA (anti-Bentley). I think if you came up here and spoke to the participants, the majority really are for this new plan. It is just a hard, uphill battle when the few people that do oppose Bentley/Industry plan have a lot of resources and money. I'm not saying that these people don't have the best interests of harness racing at heart - they do, I'm just saying they just aren't the majority.

Sadly, we can't have it all. Bentley has had to make some tough decisions and he's not going to be able to please everyone. These tough decisions need to be made for racing to continue in Queensland. If he really was anti trotting, next year our prizemoney would decrease to 10%. I can't believe people are bickering when we can have our very own Menangle only 20 mins further North than Albion Park. Menangle is a long, long way from Sydney while Deagon is in the Northern Suburbs of Brisbane with easy access. Further, Bentley made a tough call with the Deagon gallopers to provide the greyhound and harness with a world class facility. If he was that anti-trotting he would not have done that. In light of what has happened recently to Phil Mitchell, I am not going to elaborate on a public forum but at 1400m track is going to be fairer racing for all than a 1000m track. Further, Redcliffe is going to received funds to keep it maintained as a training track, with the possibility of some restricted meetings too.

One more thing - the future of the Interdoms is a bit up in the air after Perth. NSW and Qld proposed (at a meeting several months ago) running 3 Interdoms in a row each, giving them a better chance to find a sponsor (ie for 3 years in a row rather than 1). Bentley was very enthusiastic about this for Qld. Why would he want this if he is anti-trotting? These things take a lot of resources and organising - if he was anti-trotting, he would much rather concentrate that energy, time and money into the gallopers.

Im going to PM you some other stuff Triplev, just not comfortable going into nitty gritties on a public forum!! :o I'm not saying Bentley's perfect, I'm not saying I agree with everything he says. What I am saying is he is TRYING to stop us from going down the gurgler. The effort he is putting in the save Qld racing is a lot more than his predecessors and I respect that. :)

craig

04-15-2011, 05:40 PM

Flashing Red.

I was going to let this go but I think you should get some of your facts right before you comment anymore on Qld racing.

You talk about prize money distribution and how we are locked into an agreement until next year. Well we are locked into an agreement until 2014 when the Tab will sit down and then work out what percentage all 3 codes will receive. Mr Bentley cannot change our current agreement even if he wanted to, because we are locked into it. So don't make him out to be such a good man because he cannot legally touch or change what we are given at the moment. The problem harness racing has at the moment is that yes we do receive 14% of the turnover revenue but we only contribute 10%. The greyhounds at the moment contribute more than us, so if when the next agreement is up for renewal and the greyhounds are still outperforming the harness code then they will receive a bigger piece of the pie then the harness code. It will not matter one bit if a greyhound cost 1/8th of the expense of a horse to look after, they will get the amount of money that they are entitled to under the agreement.

You also make comment about Mr Bentleys plans on tracks at Deagon and Ipswich. I can guarantee you that the galloping trainers at these venues will not be relocating to any other venue to allow our code to set up shop at their tracks. They have already met with racing Qld and they are not moving and why should they have to. You seem to think that with the sale of Albion Park then we would have our own Menangle up here, but that is not going to happen. If we were to move to one of these other venues we would be located inside the galloping tracks and would be tenants to the galloping clubs. Any money raised from the sale of Albion Park is going to go into rebuilding the Gold Coast turf club ($58 million)and the 3 northern Turf clubs will receive the rest. This has been confirmed by Racing Qld .

I also note your comments on how the industry does not recognise BOTRA anymore. You could not be any more off the mark if you wanted to be. Mr Bentley refuses to recognise BOTRA because they have taken him to task on a number of issues, something which he does not like, that is why he does not recognise them. As for the industry participants well the majority are backing them. In a recent survey conducted by BOTRA which was open to both members and non members to comment on, the issue of the sale of Albion Park received over 80% of replies wanting it kept and not sold off by Racing Qld. I feel this alone shows that you are in the minority.

The main reason why certain individuals are taking action against the sale of Albion Park is because any money raised from the sale would go into refurbishing galloping tracks, not into any harness tracks. Another reason for the court case is that if the LNP win the next election they have already stated that Mr Bentley will be sacked from his position and all 3 codes will go back to running themselves. Now if Albion Park is sold off before then where does this leave harness racing. The gallops will have the money from the sale of Albion park and we will have nowhere to race. Can you see why this is a bad thing. Mr Bentley has no intention of building any tracks up here for us. The Qld government is broke so they won’t give him any money and his racing board is broke, so where do you purpose they get the money from.

I for one would love to see a 1400 metre track up here to race on and a facility that we can be proud of, but it not going to happen under Bentleys watch. Hopefully after the next election we have an LNP government and we will have administrators running harness racing because they want to, not because it is a job for the boys like it currently is, under the current Labour regime. Don't think for a second Mr Bentley is a friend of harness racing. He has no regard for it at all.

mango

04-15-2011, 06:23 PM

Just a question for anyone is this Bob (wanker) Bentley on the board of Australian Harness Racing ?

triplev123

04-15-2011, 07:45 PM

latemail_cam

04-17-2011, 04:42 PM

Havent they just announced prize money increases?

Flashing Red

04-17-2011, 04:57 PM

Havent they just announced prize money increases?

Yes.

latemail_cam

04-17-2011, 05:05 PM

What are the exact prize money increases?

Whats country and metro minimums

Flashing Red

04-17-2011, 05:09 PM

G'day Flashing,

Looking on from afar, very much in the same fashion as that which has occured with Harold Park...when & if Albion Park is ever sold off then it should be done solely at a time of the QLD Harness Racing Industry's choosing, not as a result of what which would basically be a 'forced aquisition come outright seizure' of a QLD Harness Racing Industry asset by QLD Labor Party aligned & beholding bureaucrat & worse still one that appears to have significant TB Industry leanings, who's motives for doing so are at the very best less than clear and who's desired outcomes from said process appear for all intents & purposes to be of a similar ilk. I stand to applaud Kevin Seymour for kicking in a considerable amount of his own hard earned in order to keep the Barbarians from the gate. We've already seen Mary McKillop declared a Saint. Next in line for beatification is Rex Horne and then Kevin will get his call-up.

'forced aquisition come outright seizure' - I completely disagree.

I think you will find, that other than a select few, the selling of Albion Park hasn't been "forced". The selling of Albion Park means we can have a Deagon - you would be surprised at how many people realise this trade off and actually don't mind it. We don't have enough money to have it both ways. There was a huge stink when it was first annouced, because Deagon wasn't annouced at the same time, so it looked like Albion Park was going to be sold to solely benefit the galloping clubs. I was whinging with the rest of them. But this is not the case. Sure, some of it will benefit the galloping clubs we we are all under the same umbrella now and we can get our very own Menangle! Have you looked at the Industry Infrastructure plan? Don't you find any positives in their for the Harness Code???
There are no significant TB leanings as I have previously outlined. There has been no pressure by the Labor Party on Bentley to sell Albion Park. I hate the fact that Labor is selling off the state's assets, I really do. I don't like Labor at all, not one iota. Out with Gillard, out with Bligh, PLEASE! But this is a different senario. Not everyone can be made happy. Have you not heard of "the greatest good for the greatest number?" Not everyone can be pleased. What is wrong with our industry, also the gallops and dogs, is that everyone thinks about themselves. Bentley thinks about the codes collaboratively, to move a united Queensland Racing forward. What's wrong with that?
I use to be Bentley's staunchest critic (see previous posts on other forums) until I was shown "the light" so to speak. He's not perfect, I think more communication with the industry would be better. But heck, he's trying.

craig

04-17-2011, 07:38 PM

Flashing Red.

Please give up. You are making yourself look very foolish. I talk on a regular basis with a large cross section of the industry up here and you are on your own with a small group who think this is a good idea for harness racing. Go and talk to Kevin Seymour or Bill Dixon next time you are at the races. Ask them why they are doing it and how this sale has been forced on harness racing. Mr Bentley has a very bad back ground in business. He has sent many ventures broke, i really hope the racing industry here in Qld is not his next target.

mango

04-17-2011, 08:07 PM

I'm not right up to date with the sale of A-Park or the going's on up there but i remember reading that if they could sell it for $100m so much money would be going to the Gallops. The first question that people need to ask themselves is why should the Gallops recieve a cent from the sale. I'd say as a guess Bob has made some promises to the Gallops which he can't get funding for and the only way to keep his promise is to screw Harness Racing over. If they are to move to Deagan which i here the Galloping people aren't happy about that would mean the Harness track would be inside the Gallops track, for me this is a backwards move and i would never go watch a race on the inside of another track. We are trying to get new and younger people into Harness racing and to bring them out to watch racing over another track is outright stupid.

latemail_cam

04-17-2011, 09:01 PM

I agree why race on the inside of another track build like melton and menangle.

If the sale did go ahead of Albion Park, they could race for $16000 per metro race on bank interest alone if the right people managed the cash.

Flashing Red

04-17-2011, 11:10 PM

Craig,

Forgive me I honestly did not see your previous post on page one of the thread. :)

I haven't found anyone that hasn't been switched around somewhere along the line, personally. Providing the other side of the coin does not make me foolish. Having such a passion for harness racing is why this issue is close to my heart. We'll have to agree to disagree with this one, I stand by what I've said (some of which I think you've mis-understood). I also find it humorous the lengths people have gone to to try and shut people that have similar opinions to me up, the media included. It's disgraceful. Let both sides of the story be told and people make up their own minds. I personally think only one side of the story is being told to the industry at the moment, hence my posts.

In saying that, it is good to see that you are also very passionate about harness racing in Qld. When push comes to shove, Bentley or not, I would just love to see the best for the industry, whatever that direction may be. :) However, the longer this drags on, I do feel that Queensland Racing is dying a slow death, as the OP stated.... :(

triplev123

04-18-2011, 10:15 AM

Perhaps this should be adopted as Racing QLD's Theme Song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shBKTA3QIok

Sing along now...

You go down the longest road to nowhere
You pull it apart and you're just left there
You go down the longest road to nowhere
You pull it apart and you're just left there

DAZZA

04-18-2011, 02:13 PM

The bottom line is, BENTLEY wants to sell off Albion Park and use the money to further improve the galloping industry, can you blame harness people like Natalie Rassmussen for taking out a galloping licence? No! She's not stupid, with this f***wit in charge of racing Queensland he will use HARNESS money to further improve the GALLOPS. Dont know about anyone else but I find that a little bit sh*t. Yeah yeah might get a nice big track INSIDE A GALLOPING TRACK! Wow what a crowd puller that will be, do binoculars get handed out to everyone at the gate? Because they will need them. Go from a grandstand at the 150m point to a stand 100m from were the horses are. Give me a break. BENTLEYS got no interest in the future of harness racing what so ever.

triplev123

04-18-2011, 07:22 PM

Well said Andrew Cripps.

---NEW Opposition Racing spokesperson and Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, has reiterated the LNP's commitment to the policy principles outlined before the recent Shadow Cabinet reshuffle and assured all racing industry participants of the LNP's support for racing.

Mr Cripps said the LNP remained committed to legislating in government to dismantle the current three code single board and re-establish three separate boards consisting of industry participants to control the future destiny of their very different codes of racing.
"The LNP is committed to the racing industry. I have been appointed as the Shadow Minister responsible for Racing in the new Shadow Cabinet. I intend to be a dedicated and strong advocate for the racing industry in a Newman LNP Government" said Mr Cripps.

"In addition, Campbell Newman has appointed a specialist Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Racing. Mermaid Beach MP, Ray Stevens, the former Shadow Minister for Racing, will continue to play a major role in the development of the LNP's racing policy" he said.

"Ray Stevens has long been involved in the racing industry in Queensland. Ray and I are looking forward to supporting the racing industry and recognising the important contribution it makes to the state economy and the social fabric of local communities" said Mr Cripps.

"All codes of racing will be supported appropriately and of course, under a Newman LNP Government, country and provincial racing will be once again be extended respected and encouragement that it deserves, something that has been lacking under Labor" he said.

Mr Cripps said while he had not previously held the Shadow Racing portfolio in the LNP Shadow Cabinet, he had always supported local racing clubs in his North Queensland electorate in Innisfail and Ingham and the provincial racing clubs in Townsville and Cairns.

"I look forward to meeting as many industry players as possible in the coming months. I remind everyone in racing that a vote for the Bligh Labor Government at the next election is a vote for a continuation of Bob Bentley and the Racing Queensland Board"