General News
12 March, 2025
EDITORIAL: Big changes needed at Racing Queensland headquarters
The racing body has lost touch with the average Queenslander living outside of the south-east corner.
A major overhaul is needed at Racing Queensland based on what we’ve seen out of Deagon in the last 12 months.
Outgoing CEO Jason Scott may have been an expert on wagering from his days with Ladbrokes, but his knowledge of Queensland, particularly the regional areas, has fallen short of expectations.
With a new state government, it also appears that the racing body is out of step with the LNP’s plans for bush racing, which so far has been extremely supportive.
Racing Minister Tim Mander has called for a statewide review of the three codes of racing, but it is clear that more immediate action must be taken in the interim, based on last Friday’s appalling situation, which saw RQ blindside Country Racing Panel members with plans to start cutting meetings from hubs in order to save money.
It was a move that was done without consultation with the government and one that reportedly infuriated the Racing Minister.
While Mr Scott has put in his notice and is now temporarily in charge of RQ’s soon-to-be-opened greyhound track “The Q”, the bush is still left with a racing body that lacks empathy and the understanding of the challenges of operating race clubs in the regions.
Under the previous Palaszczuk-Miles government, RQ lost its way and has since become a boys’ club.
When the long-time and well-respected Queensland country racing manager Col Truscott retired last year, it left a major hole in the industry.
Instead of scouring the nation for a replacement for such a major position, RQ instead appointed a former Ladbrokes employee with very little relevant experience.
And instead of being based in a place like Rockhampton, where his predecessor resided, the new country racing manager sits in Deagon and has barely been sighted at a bush meeting since taking the job.
How can a statutory body like Racing Queensland appoint major roles like that without advertising them? It doesn’t pass the pub test.
And with Mr Scott leaving his post early, it would have come as no surprise to many that his acting replacement is – lo and behold – another former Ladbrokes man.
What hope does bush racing have when most of RQ’s payroll sit in an air-conditioned office in Deagon and 98 per cent of staff live in the south-east corner?
Since last year’s election, Mr Mander has been impressive in his new role as Racing Minister, but it is clear that he has a lot of work to do to clean up what is a giant mess at RQ headquarters.
The racing body’s solution to save money was to cut meetings from bush hubs like Mount Isa and Longreach, but the cuts need to start in Deagon.
How much money has been wasted in the last five years because of major blunders by RQ?
Failed track upgrades at places like Charters Towers, Eagle Farm and Charleville have cost millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, clubs like Mount Isa and Longreach are putting on a great service to their communities.
Had someone from RQ been at the St Patrick’s Day-themed meeting on Saturday, they would have seen 800 people – most of them aged under 40 and at least half of them women – which is a lot more than you’ll see at most Brisbane race meetings.
Instead of trying to cut our local meetings, RQ should be thinking of ways to build them up so they can contribute to the coffers of a flailing racing industry.
