JOURNAL Official Publication of the Greyhound Racing Authority of Qld Registered by Australia Post Publication No. QBP 3978 OCTOBER 2005 Volume 187 Page 5 Page 8 Page 10 After 35 years as lure driver at the Gabba and Albion Park, Jack McDonald retired in September. His story Page 22. Page 12 Page 21 Kibble and Biscuits Available nowThe (October, from 2005) Journal your local Pagestockists 1 Chair: Phil Bennett HEAD OFFICE Advertisers Note: Notification of cessation of advertising: The GRA Members: Kerry Watson Albion Park Raceway, Amy Street, Breakfast Creek requires one month prior notice, in Chris Williams (Office Hours Admin 8.30am to writing, if you wish to cease regular David Stitt 4.30pm Monday-Friday. advertising in the GRA’s Board Scratchings 7.30am) Editor and Advertising Journal. This is to be sent direct to MANAGEMENT DAVID BRASCH the Authority at PO Box 250, General Manager Darren Beavis POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 93, Nundah Albion, 4010. Failure to provide [email protected] PO Box 250, Albion, Q, 4010 Brisbane, Qld, 4012. this will result in the advertiser Executive assistant Ordet Lowe Ph: (07) 32666508 being sent an account for advertisements which appear in all [email protected] TELEPHONE E-mail: [email protected] Chairman of Stewards Danny Ryan (07) 3262 7800 (Office) subsequent Journals. [email protected] (07) 3262 7809 (Fax) Advertising Rates Investigations Daryl Kays (07) 3862 4437 (Fax noms) THE GRA advises that fees may Full Page $583 [email protected] 1800 851155 (Phone Noms, now be paid by EFTPOS, Half Page $302.50 Grading Panel Eddie Little, Mon-Fri 7am-8.30am) Bankcard, Visa and Mastercard. Quarter Page $170.50 [email protected] If you decide to pay by One-Eighth Page $99 Registrar Liz Murray Recorded Field Info 1900 95 7003 Bankcard, Visa or Mastercard, Classifieds $22/$44 [email protected] Faxed Field Info 1902 26 1004 you may do so by telephoning the (All prices are GST inclusive) Finance controller Abhendra Kumar E-mail address: [email protected] Authority on All casual adverts must be [email protected] Web address: www.graq.org.au paid for in advance. (07) 32627800. Phil Bennett GRA Chair THE re-negotiation of the lease over the greyhound racing facilities at and ensure the continuity of racing in the Townsville Showgrounds has been Townsville. dragging on for a number of years. There has also been a number of I recently met with Racing Minister fruitful meetings with staff of the Robert Schwarten to discuss the Department of Public Works regarding Congratulations to situation. the future of Albion Park and the the connections of As a result of this meeting, a evaluation process is proceeding well Bogie Leigh, Les ministerial approach has been made to though a little slower than was and Sandy Bein and the Minister for Natural Resources and anticipated. trainer Tony Brett. Mines. I wish to congratulate Helen Ivers Bogie Leigh will be It is hoped this may resolve the on her greyhound Texas Gold winning inducted into the impasse and ensure the Townsville the National Distance Championship Hall of Fame in Greyhound Club and the greyhound (unfortunately representing New South September 2006. participants will have peace of mind Wales). Texas Gold seems to be unstoppable in the distance events and a number of the same litter are also very promising. It is sad to see steward Blandina Huber leave the employ of the GRA. She has trail-blazed the way for women in the traditional male domain Rearing pups of stewarding. I wish to thank her for efforts and dedication to duty and wish Puppy rearing is always available at Encounter Kennels. Pups her well in her new career. The Queensland Parliament recently are reared in 200m long yards with a dam and shade trees in passed an amendment to the Racing Venues Development Act 1982. every yard. Fed only on the best (human consumption meat). Currently the only racing venue governed by the Act is the Parklands Which is just what your valuable pup needs. Pups handled complex on the Gold Coast. The amendment basically ensured regularly throughout rearing. the trustees of the Parklands Gold Coast Trust were acting within their ALSO BREAKING IN, BOX and ARM powers when they allowed the venue to RE-EDUCATION AVAILABLE. be used for events other than racing Rearing Track Open events. Tues, Thurs, The parliamentary debate was quite Encounter interesting and if you wish to view the Spelling Saty & Hansard Report for August 23, it can Kennels & Breaking-in Track Sunday be located on the Queensland Parliament website BOOKINGS CALL RICK FALL (07) 54264338/0427264338 www.parliament.qld.gov.au. Breaking-in LOT 13 WOTAN RD ATKINSON DAM 4311 The (October, 2005) Journal Page 2 Darren Beavis General Manager SUBMISSIONS closed at the end of accolade for the champion sprinter She has been a dedicated and loyal August on the draft of the grading policy following on from her greyhound of the member of the steward’s panel for nine and the Board of the GRA has discussed it year title in 2004. years. at length. As the winner of four Group 1 races Her love of animals is well known The GRA needs to be able to gather the Disappointingly the GRA received only and more prizemoney than any bitch in among the industry and specially at the dog’s interstate race performances in two submissions regarding the new policy, history, and second only to Rapid Journey GRA and we know her new position is one order to grade the greyhound correctly. one from a licensee and the other from the on the all-time money earner’s list, the she will love. This has not been done with great QGBOTA. daughter of Just The Best-Hypo Havoc regularity in the past and we would Any likely changes will not be deserves such an honour. ON a personal note, I would like to wish appreciate trainers take notice of this introduced for a few months, expected to Jack McDonald a great retirement. important requirement. be the New Year, due to the necessary THE loss of Ken Hutchinson from the My family have been friends with Jack There is provision on the Internet computer programming changes. Grading Panel was disappointing for the for many years and it was Jack who nomination service to indicate if a The Board took it that from the small GRA. approached the GRA for me to undertake greyhound has competed interstate since number of submissions the majority of the Ken had been here for 18 months and work experience here whoile I was still at its last Queensland start or is coming from industry backed the proposed changes. had filled his role on the panel with school. interstate for its initial Queensland start. distinction. He has just taken over as This eventually led to me gaining a For those who phone nominations WHAT a wonderful decision by the secretary-manager at Healesville track in position as a cadet steward. through to the GRA, this is the perfect time member of the AGRA to selected Victoria. I personally would like to thank him. to make this known. Queensland’s champion bitch Bogie Leigh Ordet Lowe will assist Chief Grader And on behalf of the industry, I think for induction into the Hall of Fame. Eddie Little while still undertaking her we all agree there is no better luire driver. THE GRA has approved the new Rule That will happen next September in normal duties as executive assistant. Book incorporating Greyhounds Tasmania to coincide with the Nationals I know Danny Ryan has mentioned in TRAINERS should be aware of their Australasia rules, Queensland local rules series at Launceston. his column the resignation of Blandina obligations to inform the Grading Panel and the Qld Board/Commission rules. Congratulations to Les and Sandy Bein Huber from the steward’s panel, but I felt of any new dog in their kennel at the time Each licensee in the future will receive and trainer Tony Brett. It’s the ultimate I too should wish her the best. of nominating for its first Queensland start. a copy of the Rule Book. Danny Ryan Chairman of Stewards A NUMBER of trainers at recent meetings appear to have little knowledge of As the owner or trainer of a greyhound, it the Rules in relation to weights and their is clearly your responsibility to find out if you as a cadet steward nine years ago. However, I hear popular Tully trainer greyhounds. have qualified for the final of a race. After a polished career with us, she has Dennis Godfrey’s wife Susan has had a stint When presenting your greyhound to race, The excuse used when you don’t arrive at taken a position in animal welfare and will in hospital at Townsville. your greyhound must weigh within 1 kilo of kennelling time is “I did not realise I had now fulfil her love of animals. I understand Susie is on the mend and we its last start weight. qualified for the final”. We certainly wish Blandy all the best and wish her a speedy recovery before Dennis has Should your greyhound not have raced for Your failure to appear has cost a thank her sincerely for her contribution to a heart attack from having to do a bit of work a period longer than 28 days then your greyhound a place in the final, a 10-day greyhound racing in Queensland. around the place. greyhound is eligible for a re-weigh, but must penalty and a fine will apply.