An annual North Queensland race meeting has to move to another track because of a new Qld racing decision. Has bureaucracy taken too much from country racing?
Stamford’s race day next month will be transferred 60km north east to the Hughenden track instead, as the race club was unable to replace its outside running rail to meet standards.
Racing Queensland has confirmed a total 16 race clubs across the state had been impacted by the change in its standards.
Stamford Race Club secretary Jane McNamara said a new outside running rail would cost a minimum of $120,000, but the issue was there was a shortage of required material.
Mrs McNamara said the club was only informed last month that bureaucratic changes would impact the track.
Stamford Race Club secretary Jane McNamara. She has been in this position for 47 years. Picture: Trudy Brown
She said the club was working with Racing Queensland to source unused material from other clubs, but that this would not be able to be completed in time for the meeting on July 6.
Another issue was in seeking funding for future events: Racing Queensland funding closes in May each year and is announced in July, after the annual meeting.
A map of Stamford and Hughenden in outback North Queensland. Picture: Google Maps
“Rules are rules, (they’ve) obviously had issues with star pickets somewhere else,” Mrs McNamara said.
“126 years racing at Stamford there’s never been an issue with a star picket yet, but you never know, there might be some day.”
Mrs McNamara said there would be the same organisers, the same attendees, and the same community spirit despite the change in venue, and she was grateful to the Hughenden Race Club for supporting the change.
Senator Susan McDonald criticised the State Government and its bureaucratic handling of country racing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Senator Susan McDonald was scathing of the new track standards and star picket ban, considering the burden on a volunteer run club, and she urged Racing Minister Grace Grace to intervene.
The cost was “an impossible figure” for a racing club.
“It is not only horse racing, it is a major income generator for small communities on which businesses and councils rely each year,” Ms McDonald said.
“These clubs are almost exclusively run by volunteers on shoestring budgets.
“They don’t have the funds or the manpower to undertake the major works being dictated to them from Brisbane.
“Country races are important community social events for young and old alike, and are the big highlight on community calendars.
“For country towns to lose race days will be a hammer blow to all involved.”
A Racing Queensland spokesman said the decision was made with Stamford Race Club to transfer next month’s meeting to Hughenden.
This would not impact race distances or prize money on offer.
The organisation would also work with Stamford Race Club to provide a long-term solution for future meetings.
The spokesman said venue standards were reviewed each year and that health and safety was a focus of bureaucratic decision making.
It had consulted with clubs and the Country Racing Panel in the last year, and in January the department announced these changes would come into effect in six months.
Changes included removing star pickets to form a running rail on any racing surface or training track.
“Given the changes will improve participant safety and animal welfare, the proposal received unanimous support from the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and the Queensland Jockeys’ Association,” the spokesman said.