Racing Queensland Suspend The Capalaba Greyhound Club
The grim situation of greyhound racing in Queensland has been further underlined today with the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club being officially suspended due to concerns over their financial management.
The future viability of the Capalaba greyhound racing club looks dim after Racing Queensland suspended all greyhound racing at the track until the club can prove their ongoing viability.
Racing Queensland Limited has today invoked its power under the Racing Act 2002 (QLD) to suspend the licence of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club.
The club has been issued a Show Cause Notice in relation to concerns regarding their current financial position and ongoing viability.
The greyhound racing club now has 28 days to Show Cause why their license should not be cancelled.
The decision to suspend and possibly delicense the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club may have wider ramifications for Queensland greyhound racing, as the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club, who run the majority of major Queensland greyhound racing; took over the administration and management of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club in July 2009.
Concerns over the future financial viability over the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club will surely be laid squarely at the feet of the management of main city Queensland greyhound racing club, and might have broader implications.
Although Racing Queensland Limited has suspended the licence of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club to conduct race meetings until the finalisation of the Show Cause Notice, Racing Queensland Limited has acceded to a request from the Club to permit it to continue to provide trailing facilities.
The president of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club, Mr Alec Stevens, has made a commitment to discuss this issue with his executive committee prior to organising another meeting with Racing Queensland Limited to discuss a number of alternatives that he hopes will ensure this vital racing and trialling facility can be maintained into the future.
A Racing Queensland Limited spokesperson was said to be “buoyed by the response of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club in relation to this issue and looks forward to working with the Club to successfully resolve this issue”.
Adding that “It is important that stakeholders understand that racing at Capalaba has ceased effectively immediately and will not resume until a resolution to this issue is achieved”.
It is understood that an unrelated decision by Racing Queensland today to suspend the Bundaberg Race Club (thoroughbreds) will have no immediate impact on the Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club as they prepare for their big Easter Carnival.
However, should the Bundaberg Race Club successfully retain their license, then Racing Queensland will seek to encourage a more cooperative board of management from the two clubs who share the same facility and venue.