Racing bodies saddle up

AFTER months of delicate and protracted negotiations, the complex partnership deal between the Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) and Racing Queensland Limited (RQL), involving all aspects of the Callaghan Park racecourse grounds and complex, has been finalised.

RJC chairman Justin Doyle announced yesterday that the new joint company – Rockhampton Racing Limited – would assume the overall control of Callaghan Park from this Sunday.

Under the deal, which inflamed the passions of positive projectionists and opposing traditionalists alike, the RJC will be responsible for the racing product at Callaghan Park and RQL will take over the tracks (course proper and training) and stables (tie-up and on-course), as well as maintenance staff.

Together with a sizeable cash sweetener, the RJC will be relieved of burdensome and hefty maintenance expenses, as well as a large proportion of its former wages expenditure.

“We (RJC) are already looking at means of upgrading our facilities at Callaghan Park, whereby we can meet not only the racing market for patrons but be in a position to attract new revenue streams from the market outside of racing.

“We have already had talks with architects,” Doyle said.

The new deal is forecast as not only a win-win situation for both partners in the new company but more importantly for the stakeholders – owners, trainers, jockeys and licensees – in Rockhampton racing.

“My belief was that linking with RQL in this new partnership guarantees the bright future of racing in Rockhampton and, more importantly, for the stakeholders,” Doyle said.

The partnership arrangement ends more than a century of RJC control over aspects of racing in Rockhampton.

Although Doyle would not comment, it is widely known that some traditionalist-minded committee members on the RJC were fervently against the new partnership.

However, the majority of the committee and membership supported the proposal.

However, Doyle did confirm it had been a trying time, saying “they said that change brings pain and to that I say nothing has changed”.

The last of the successful rich QTIS 600 Bonus 2YO races will be run at Callaghan Park today, with a crackerjack field including eight individual winners.

Listed as the second TAB race at 1.29pm, it has lured winning horses from Roma, Caloundra, Toowoomba, Bundaberg, and Longreach.

Astute Toowoomba mentor Ron Macrae was weather-watching last night as he prepared for the float trip from the Downs with smart youngster Manahide.

Two starts ago at the Sunshine Coast, on July 3, the Hidden Dragon gelding Manahide was an excellent fourth of 15 youngsters in the feature juvenile race over 1200 metres. The race was won by Gentle Giant.

Macrae makes no bones about his high opinion of Manahide, who is precariously drawn at 13 barrier today.

“Had he (Manahide) drawn a decent alley I would have thought him to be a really good thing.

“However, all we can do now is take him up there and hope for the best,” Macrae said.

The Thangool Jockey Club looks set to be a busy racing venue on Saturday after 67 horses were entered, including 24 for the Class B (1075m).

Preparations are continuing at the mining centre of Middlemount for the gala annual race day there on Saturday, August 7.