Bentley backs greyhound club

Bob Bentley answers concerns about who will run Queensland racing under massive restructure plans.

RACING Queensland Limited (RQL) chairman Bob Bentley has given an assurance that committees like the Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club (IGRC) would remain unchanged under the $30 million Bundamba Racecourse restructure.

Answering control concerns raised by IGRC president Merv Page, Bentley said the seven-member RQL board would run meetings around the state, including Bundamba.

“Everybody has to understand that Racing Queensland now is a three-code body,” Bentley said.

“Racing Queensland accounts for race meetings, the prizemoney and we’ll be in charge of looking after the tracks, the grounds and all that sort of thing to keep it right up to scratch.

“If you have a look at how well manicured the Sunshine Coast (facility) is, that is what we would expect to present on international TV for Ipswich.”

Bentley said current committees could continue to function and he expected them to play important roles at Bundamba.

“We (RQL) don’t have anything to do with their committees, who’s on their committees or how much they charge for beer,” Bentley said.

“All those things are things for the club. But they (the club) don’t actually run the meeting. Right now, we run the meeting completely.

“As far as who runs what, it’s an early stage. We’ll take into consideration everybody’s concerns.

“We’ll no doubt put in a structure that suits everybody and nobody should feel disadvantaged.”

Although a new greyhound track is also planned for Deagon, Bentley expected the Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club to transfer smoothly from the Showgrounds to the upgraded Bundamba complex.

“Their first port of call as a club will be racing in Ipswich,” the RQL chairman said.

“The Brisbane Greyhound Club will be racing at Deagon.”

Bentley said Racing Queensland would continue to control the stewards.

“The Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club will look after their members and look after what they’ve got to do,” he said.

“But they don’t control the racing now and they won’t control the racing in the future.

“Nothing changes except they’ve got a brand new facility.”

Bentley’s response yesterday came as a planned RQL meeting at the Showgrounds on December 19 was yesterday being rescheduled.