QGBOTA

As previously announced on the afternoon of April 30th, the QGBOTA representatives met with Racing Queensland for the first time since the announcement of the new look board. This included the new RQ board Chair, Mr Matt McGrath, board member Mr Gary Heath and Acting CEO Mr Lachlan Murray.  This meeting was planned for one hour, however this was generously extended for a second hour of talks. 

The QGBOTA set the agenda with three key items that are of high importance to the Queensland Greyhound Industry. 

1. Prize Money for lower grades and classes
2. The Q2 305m Track
3. Grading

This was the first time that any Board Chairman has met with industry representatives. He was welcoming, engaging while patiently listening to our issues. 

We discussed a lot of information and provided examples on the three topics and will follow up with more information in future meetings. We agreed on the need to triage issues for investigations and work collaboratively to schedule future meetings based on robust long term strategies focused on the future of the Queensland Greyhound code as a whole not just regionally. 

The rehoming of greyhounds was not a main focus of today’s talks, however, it was reassuring to learn that Racing Queensland had purchased the Churchable property some time ago, enabling the QLD Greyhound Adoption Program the stability of long term tenancy.

QGBOTA members are frustrated with the complexities of Grading and it was interesting to note that RQ have also been making assessments and planning changes.  The RQ board has encouraged the QGBOTA to schedule meetings with the RQ department to work through these issues and discuss their proposals and plans. We ask members with questions, concerns and examples relating to grading be forwarded to the QGBOTA on email qgbota@gmail.com. We will collate this into a package for the future meeting. 

We encourage all participants to contact us with any topic or issue for inclusion in our next meeting. 

The QGBOTA committee

Representatives from the QGBOTA met with the RQ Board Chairman, Mr Matt McGrath, CEO Lachlan Murray and Board Member Gary Heath today between 12-2pm at Deagon.

The meeting was constructive in its nature and covered topics raised by QGBOTA members.

We will collate our notes to inform you all as soon as possible.

The QGBOTA has become aware of the current confusion relating to the prosecution of an invalid scratching reason.

1. A greyhound cannot be removed from an event for an invalid reason.
2. Acceptable reasons are
   • Injury
   • Illness
   • Seasonal condition
   • Competition adverse to the greyhound’s health or welfare
3. If the greyhound has been removed for an invalid reason, the stewards should immediately reinstate the greyhound to that same race and box as originally drawn.

The Greyhound Australasian Rules process for scratching

GAR76 Scratching after box draw
Make application to withdraw the greyhound if an injury, illness, season condition or prevent the greyhound from competing that would be adverse to the animals health or welfare. GAR76(1)b

The owner or trainer or person authorised must apply to the controlling body or the stewards. (In Queensland this is via Ozchase.) Once satisfied the application may be accepted and the greyhound is removed from the event and may have a stand down period.

The QGBOTA highlights that a greyhound can never be scratched for an unacceptable reason without the permission of stewards. Furthermore if a scratching has occurred, stewards have the responsibility to invoke GAR19(x) to immediately reinstate the greyhound to start an event.

Scratched then not reinstated.

For example, a control body or stewards scratch a greyhound on the receipt of an OzChase transaction. A chargeable offence has not occurred with no fine applicable as the scratching was accepted and processed. A stand down period may still apply. The control body or stewards have deemed the reason acceptable to remove the greyhound from the event.

If, however, stewards reconsider the scratching reason as unacceptable after the greyhound has been withdrawn from the event, then contact must be made to the trainer within a reasonable time frame to allow preparation and transport of the greyhound to the event prior to kennel opening.
If GAR19 (x) has not been invoked a offence has not been made.

The QGBOTA does not accept that an owner, trainer or responsible person can be held to account and monetarily fined for the actions of a control body or stewards to withdrawal a greyhound and failure to reinstate the greyhound due to the reason being unacceptable.

The QGBOTA reminds members that the Racing Appeals Panel is available.

Greyhound Australasia rules Effective 1 Jan 2026

GAR19 Stewards powers in connection with meetings.
(x) reinstate a greyhound that has been scratched or directed that a greyhound starts in an event
GAR76 Scratchings after box draw
(1) The trainer, or in the trainers absence the owner of a greyhound, or other person authorised by the trainer or owner must:
(b) Make application to withdraw the greyhound pursuant to subrule (2) if any injury, Illness or seasonal condition that will prevent the greyhound from competing (or competing would be adverse to the greyhounds health or welfare) is apparent before the appointed scratching time.
(2) In order to withdraw a greyhound from an event, the owner or trainer or personal authorised must apply to the controlling body or the stewards. The controlling body or the stewards may, once satisfied the application is for an acceptable reason, authorise the scratching of the greyhound and apply an appropriate stand down period.
GAR86 Kennelling Time
(1) Unless otherwise directed by the stewards, the handler of a greyhound drawn in an event must present the correct greyhound to the stewards not later than 45 minutes before the advertised starting time of the first event of the relevant meeting.

The QGBOTA has been approached by members with concerns of transporting injured greyhounds around the Q venue. These concerns raised have two parts.

1. The safe transportation of greyhounds without causing unnecessary pain or further injury, and
2. Risk to human handlers, trainers and track staff lifting and physically carring a greyhound.

The QGRC have discussed our concerns with RQ and QRIC with the following points. –
GH (Greyhound)

• QRIC vets should be involved and provide assistance/guidance in the transportation of GH to trainers car / carpark.
• Vet van is available and can be driven into the kennels area. It is obviously already set up for GH transport (“ambulance”)
• Trainers’ car can be driven into kennels area.
• The trainers transport buggy could also be used.
• Any vehicles moving within the integrity area would need safety supervision, which the staff along with QRIC vet/stewards can supervise.
• A cage on wheels, like QGBOTA has provided as an example, is not ideal as manoeuvring an injured GH into something like that presents a higher risk of inflaming injury.
• They agreed that a stretcher might be an option, however, it would only really work if the GH is heavily sedated and may need to have ‘sides’ – Michelle Ledger will have a look for any suitable options and send through.
• Steve will engage with QRIC vets as to the appropriate standards we need to implement to ensure animal welfare.
• Formal procedures will be developed based on the above and feedback from vets. From there the new processes will be implemented as part of SOP going forward.

QGRC have received the following advice from Jamie Knox, QRIC Animal Welfare Manager.

The QGBOTA recommends to its members the following

Wait for the appropriate transportation to arrive at the required location. Allow staff to be involved and help to coordinate with your needs. You, as the trainer/handler, knows your greyhound best and will take directions from you.

Be polite and clear if you require help to transport your greyhound from the vet clinic to your vehicle in the trainers car park. If you require the trainers transport buggy to help you, please ask. Others can wait for your priority. Authority can be given to drive your vehicle to the kennel block entrance.

This can be a very distressing time for the greyhound and connections involved. The QGRC have race day managers (black shirts) who are at your immediate disposal to help you with whatever you need.

The Minister for Racing, Tim Mander MP has sent out the following message advising that Mary Collier (RQ) has formerly submitted a draft plan to implement the changes. These are long term goals for future development of Racing in Queensland.

Please click here for the link mentioned in the document.

Points to note from this brief message is the mention of the Bundaberg Sand Conversion and updates to Greyhound Race Day gaps.

As more information becomes available, we will do our best to keep you updated