By Mark Ainsworth APM, Acting Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner

I would like to highlight to all Queensland greyhound racing participants the importance of the information that you provide to the Stewards including Integrity Investigation Team Stewards is truthful and accurate.

It is important if the stewards speak to you about your conduct or about your dogs that you provide information that can be verified and supported.

We have recently had an incident where two participants were suspended for providing false evidence. Not only was this a disappointing situation for the Commission, but it has also resulted in suspensions which, if the participants concerned had been truthful, would have been avoided.

In these cases, information was provided about the location and subsequent retirement of a greyhound that was later found to be false and misleading.

The Stewards when assessing an appropriate penalty considered the serious nature of the offences that occurred and the need for both a specific deterrent to the participants and a general deterrent to the wider industry.

The stewards have reiterated that any false and/or misleading evidence, particularly regarding animal welfare, will attract a significant penalty as it undermines the integrity of racing which is critical for the proper conduct and administration of the greyhound racing industry.

2021 Winter Carnival requirements

The Queensland Winter Carnival will this year include 14 listed races as well as $1.3m in total prizemoney. Group racing will commence on June 10, with the Group 3 TAB Flying Amy Classic – Queensland’s richest event for age-restricted greyhounds – offering Group 1 prizemoney of $113,000 – almost double that of 2019 ($60,000).

Events such as the $27,500 Listed TAB Dashing Corsair, the Group 3 Super Stayers Invitational and the Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup is likely to attract participants from all around Australia.

Queensland will see an increase in interstate competitors and QRIC stewards and race-day officials are anticipating a successful carnival.

As many greyhounds will be entering Queensland from other states, the QRIC Stewards remind participants to ensure they are familiar with GA rule 105, throughout the Winter Carnival which essentially ensures that the location of all greyhounds is notified to the QRIC Stewards.

If greyhounds are being domiciled in Queensland at any point during the carnival, the Stewards must be advised of the registered kennel address, which licensed trainer oversees them and how long they will be at that location. Please notify the Stewards of these details at greyhoundstewards@qric.qld.gov.au