Queensland greyhound racing will embark on a new era this month when the first meeting is staged at an exciting new venue for the sport.
The Q, located on the outskirts of Ipswich, will be the proud new home of greyhound racing in the region when it opens its doors.
Under the watchful eye of interim chief executive officer Jason Scott, the venue will set new standards for quality in the global greyhound racing industry.
The initial meetings will be held behind closed doors to ensure things run smoothly, but Scott is eager to welcome racing fans to the new venue.
“It’s obviously disappointing not to be hitting the ground running with crowds, but it’s important we get the racing side up and going as soon as we could,” Scott said.
“The response from trainers after the trials and picnic meetings has been really encouraging from a racing viewpoint, and we are all set.
“With the public amenities, there’s still some work to do and some compliance matters to finalise, but I’m confident that once racing is underway, those issues will get moving rather quickly.
“We’ve also had a cyclone threat and significant rain to deal with recently, so getting the finishing touches on the surrounds of the complex has been challenging in those circumstances.”
The Q has received significant support from the Australian betting industry, which has been a long-standing supporter of greyhound racing for many years.
That point is evidenced on sportsbook comparison site MyBettingAustralia, where many of the brands listed offer extensive coverage of the sport.
The clamour to find reliable Australian sports betting tips will likely increase when The Q opens, highlighting the popularity of greyhound racing with punters.
The launch of the new venue coincides with a revamp of the prize money levels in Queensland, with funds redistributed across City, Provincial, Country and Straight racing programmes.
The move is designed to support the introduction of a second City Class meeting each week, which racing bosses hope will help to improve the standard.
Open Sprint races at City level will carry total prize money of $11,280, with $7,150 awarded to the winner. Open Staying races at City level offer a total of $13,440.
Provincial prize money has been aligned with Class 3 standards. Open Sprint races at this level offer $5,680 in total and $3,510. Middle and staying races offer up to $8,160 in total prize money.
Open Sprint events carry a total purse of $4,880 in Country racing, while Heats across Sprint and Straight categories offer up to $8,280.
The new system will remain in place for the rest of the 2024/25 financial year and will be reviewed before the next reporting period.
This will likely coincide with the release of the final report from an ongoing review into Queensland’s three codes of racing.
Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mander recently extended the deadline for feedback for the review and vowed to make it public once it is completed.
“Once the review is completed, we will release the report,” Mander said. Unlike the former Labour government, we are not going to spend $500,000 on a report and keep it secret.
“I am thrilled with the response to the review so far. The Crisafulli government’s aim is to pave the way toward a successful, long-term future for Queensland racing.
“To achieve this, we need to see several things, including a financially sustainable racing model, support for country racing, fit for purpose infrastructure statewide and enhanced integrity and animal welfare standards.”
