Presented to
Racing Queensland – Gary Heath, Lachlan Murray
Racing Minister – Alex Nolan Racing Policy Advisor
QGRC – Ashley Baker
We presented an overview and a detailed case for the reopening of Albion Park.
The Q Facility
The current infrastructure cannot be used as both Racing and trialing at the same time, as well as the use of different tracks to be running at the same time.
Infrastructure track overuse.
Greyhounds that are preparing to put paws on a scheduled race event cannot be distracted by a lure running on an adjacent track. Greyhounds need to be walked and boxed with limited stimulation, some require zero stimulation and do not participate in the stir up process.
Track preparation requires time and cannot be used for trials in the lead up to race events.
The example of Sunday Aug 10th listing 99 Greyhounds on the not required report, helped to explain that these dogs still require a run and cannot sit in kennels regardless of the box draw. Add to the Sunday Aug 3rd R8-12 abandon adds another 50 (including the reserves) who also need to have a run. These two numbers already overwhelm the straight track trial booking availabilities. This does not include the Q1 and Q2 trials and not required Greyhounds needing the facilities.
Training and retraining young dogs
The requirement for young dogs to be introduced to a full sized race track is greatly underestimated by those that do not have the hands on task during the education, breaking in and pre race training. A Greyhound cannot simply be taken from a small break in track and put into a race field. As trainers we understand this without question. We explained this to RQ, the minister and the QGRC in detail. An introduction starts with a single dog trial for a short slip distance. Then this distance is slowly increased with various box jump outs as the different milestones are achieved and sometimes twice a week for several weeks. This is then repeated for each pup in the litter. Some can be done in pairs, but this depends entirely on the right pair matching to ensure a habit of marring is not introduced. These all take up vital trial slots. Trainers know this, owners may know this, but once explained in detail the case to reopen Albion became an viable discussion.
Lure Drivers and Track Staff
Experienced Lure drivers understand with young dogs the need for driving skill requires the lure to be at the speed of each young dog.
The current club ban “no finish on in the pen” is detrimental to training greyhounds and understand where to their end point is. The Albion FOL meetings was a requirement by Racing Queensland’s grading department as a vital enticement tool. Security for young dogs to be confined into the pen area, with both gates closed, teaches the young dog that this is the area to stop running and be “caught” and cannot happen without the lure also confined within the pen. When the lure is “raced away” to the start position of the next trial, this encourages young dogs to look beyond the pen.
We highlighted some of the reasons that have been circulating for the case against Albion and asked for real tangible information to be made available.
We will follow up for more details and options.