By Peter Gleeson, CEO Queensland Greyhound Racing Club.
It takes a lot to impress me these days.
After a 43-year career in the media, having interviewed just about everybody from the Prime Minister down, I’ve pretty well seen it all.
So, when I tell you that the new The Q greyhound complex at Yamanto is something special, take it from me that it’s a game changer.
‘Blown away’ is an understatement.
The Q is like nothing this country – or the world for that matter – has ever seen before when it comes to a greyhound facility.
Once interstate trainers race at Yamanto, they’ll never want to leave. It’s that exciting.
In fact, to call it a greyhound facility is to devalue the importance of the project to the local community, especially those families that live in the fast-growing region around Ipswich, Springfield, Rosewood and Ripley.
This is a community hub, an entertainment, dining and gaming precinct that will bring families together.
We will employ hundreds of staff and be a big contributor to the local economy.
The grandstand building roof was being put on the day we were there, with the washdown recovery area for the greyhounds well advanced.
This is 21st century ‘doggie heaven’’ with a veterinary hospital, 250-metre training track and competition yards.
There are even cool down pools for dogs after a race.
The one-turn track will be the envy of the world, with distances catering to sprinters, middle distance and staying types.
The two-turn track is so close to the grandstand you’ll be able to just about touch the dogs as they enter the home straight.
The straight track is a work of art. How good will it be to watch straight races under the lights!
Huge kudos needs to go to a number of people as we enter the home straight on construction.
The vision of the QGRC board under chair Les Bein has been extraordinary, as has the commitment of Racing Queensland under chair Steve Wilson, who both saw this as an opportunity to take greyhounds to the next level.
Labor racing Ministers Stirling Hinchliffe and Grace Grace never waivered in their commitment.
The men behind the development are club project guru, Luke Gatehouse, RQ’s former greyhound boss, Brenton Scott, now running SA Greys, and of course Irish-born project manager Dave Hefferon. They have been working on this labour of love for seven years.
RQ’s Alex Kitching and CEO Jason Scott and Queensland Greyhound Racing Club deputy CEO Jodie Pagan have also been heavily invested.
As the freshly minted CEO of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club, I’ve spent a great deal of time meeting and speaking with industry participants, particularly trainers, since taking over the role.
Trainers, owners and breeders are the lifeblood of our industry and I’m genuinely excited to be leading the transition across from Albion Park and Ipswich to The Q.
The Q is rarified air for those who love the industry.
It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work, and an opportunity for greyhounds in Queensland to be a world leader.
We have big plans for the opening, so stay tuned.
Let’s get behind it. We’ve backed a winner with this, so let’s get in The Q.
