Honour for former turf boss

Former Ipswich Turf Club chairman Bob Bentley has been inducted into the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame.

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FORMER Ipswich Turf Club chairman Bob Bentley has received the high honour of being inducted into the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame.

Mr Bentley, who was chairman of the club from 1990 to 1993, was inducted at a dinner in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Yesterday he said he came into the role after being treasurer of the Queensland Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.

“Ipswich was in real trouble and in danger of being closed down,” Mr Bentley said. “The track was dreadful and money had been misappropriated from the club.

“But it was, and is, very important to the local breeding industry because a lot of horses that race there are bred locally.

“Some breeders asked if there was anything I could do to turn the club around.”

After helping rescue the club, Mr Bentley became chairman of the Queensland Principal Club and started reforms that would become forerunners to the current changes in racing. Recently, he was responsible for combining the three racing codes into one.

Bob Bentley is chairman of the Australian Racing Board and vice-chairman of the Asian Racing Federation.

He said he “got the shock of my life” when the Hall of Fame announcement was made on Saturday night.

“It has never been something I've sought; it's a wonderful surprise,” he said.

“I think the Hall of Fame is more about horses, trainers and jockeys and I wouldn't want to see it clogged with administrators. (But) I guess it is about someone who contributes to racing.”

He said Ipswich Turf Club remained close to his heart.

“I've always supported Ipswich,” he said. “It's a great course and the club is prepared to take on meetings other clubs don't want, then turn them into a success.”