Club is planning a fitting farewell to ‘Royal Ipswich’

March 14, 2025

Caption: Tom Tzouvelis and family celebrate last year’s Golden Chase (520m) victory by Saanvi. This year’s final on April 5 will be the highlight of festivities for the last night of racing at the Ipswich Showgrounds track. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)

Pat McLeod’s weekly wrap of news from the Ipswich track

Greyhound racing’s farewell to the Ipswich showgrounds is going to be massive.

Now scheduled for Saturday night, April 5, the gala night of top-shelf racing and festivities is shaping as one of the biggest nights since the track staged its first meeting back on Saturday, May 1, 1982.

The final curtain will now come down a week later due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s unwelcomed arrival over the past week, but club boss Wayne Siekman says farewell preparations are now in full swing for April 5.

“It could possibly be the biggest night ever at the club,” Siekman said.

“Bookings are already coming in. As soon as we announced the new date we have had 30 bookings.

“So, I suggest anyone thinking of coming on the night, should book.

“Our legendary ‘Homestyle Buffet’ will be in full swing. So don’t miss out.”

Ipswich’s kitchen offerings will no doubt again be a winner, but there is certainly a gourmet feast planned for on-track.

The highlight will be the Golden Chase (520m), formally known as the Ipswich Auction Series (520m), with a bumper $100,000 on offer for the winner.

(Second is $25,000, third is $12,500 and fourth is $6250, with $500 for unplaced runners.)

“That prizemoney is significant because this is a significant race and a significant night,” said Siekman.

“It would be great to fill the stands here at the showgrounds for what has been a great venue for greyhound racing.

“Of course we are all extremely excited to be making the move across to what will be an amazing, state-of-the-art racing facility at The Q.

“But it would also be fitting to say ‘good-bye’ to the showgrounds with a fantastic celebration.”

*****

The Golden Chase and its $145,750 in prizemoney is the highlight of several features on ‘Farewell Night’, April 5.

There will also be:

• Keith Sternberg Memorial (630m) – Prizemoney $11,600;

• Past Members Trophy (520m) – P/M $11,600;

• Golden Chase Consolation (520m) – P/M $10,500.

*****

The full list of dates for postponed feature races at Ipswich is:

The Golden Chase heats (Ipswich Auction Series) scheduled for Saturday, March 15, have been postponed until Saturday, March 22. Racing Qld advises programming amendments to feature race dates as follows:

• The Golden Chase (Ipswich Auction Series) 520m

Heats: Saturday, March 22
Semi-finals: Saturday, March 29
Final: Saturday, April 5

• Keith Sternberg Memorial (630m): Saturday, April 5

• Past Members (520m): Saturday, April 5

• Past Members (431m): new fields and box draw

Heats: Friday, March 28
Final: Saturday, April 5

Updated programs for March and April can be found on the RQ website.

Trainers and club staff were rapt that racing returned to ‘Royal Ipswich’ on Thursday, however local conditioner Mick Johnston wasn’t too upset with the re-programming.

It means his young bitch Crystal Vision (Feral Franky x Zipping Abilene) is now a chance of being a part of the Golden Chase (520m) series.

“She is working her way through a season right now, so the rain delaying things a week may have helped us,” Johnston said.

“So, she might make it.”

Of course, Johnston made the final of both Golden Chase series last year with Comedy Act. Although the Cosmic Chief x Who Nose Size chaser finished unplaced in both he certainly attracted attention with some blindingly quick displays of speed.

Since then he has etched out a handy record of 14 wins and seven placings from 36 starts for $66,925 in prizemoney.

Johnston plans to take Comedy Act north for the $75,000-to-the-winner Rockhampton Cup – heats April 9, final April 16.

*****

Mick Johnston bought Comedy Act with litter brother Situation Room as a package deal.

Situation Room’s stats aren’t as impressive as his brother’s – 49 starts for seven wins and 15 placings for $29,390 in prizemoney.

However, Johnston wishes he could be part of one of those movie scripts, but in real life, where brothers’ character traits are swapped.

“If you could blend the two then that would be a nice result,” he laughed.

“I just wish Comedy Act had Situation Room’s demeanour.

“Situation Room has the kennel manners. The other dog has the talent and no kennel manners.”

Situation Room’s next outing is a tough task, at Ipswich on Saturday night in a 4^th/5^th Grade (520m) clash against the likes of group-class performers Duffman (Jedda Cutlack) and (Uno Nangar (John Corrigan).

“He (Situation Room) is just a great tradesman,” Johnston said.

“He turns up and puts in 100 per cent effort every time he goes around.

“He is very sound and it is just a case of, ‘take him to the races’.

“But you just have to find the right field for him, which I don’t think is Saturday night because that is a very hard race.

“He is just a uniform performer through the three sectionals.

“He won’t lead, but he will be thereabouts at the first corner looking for luck in the traffic.

“And if something were to happen then he just might be in the right position and run himself into a hole.

“He is a 30.70 dog most of the time, but there are some in this race that will go better than that.

“You go to the races every time knowing that he will try his heart out.”