Letsgohorseracing - QLD & REST

Details: Published: 02 September 2013; Created: 02 September 2013

A FORMER Queensland Racing director claims union boss and Labor powerbroker Bill Ludwig acted as the conduit between racing's governing body and the Beattie and Bligh governments.

MICHAEL McKENNA reports in THE AUSTRALIAN that lawyer Bill Andrews, in a sworn statement to the commission of inquiry into the former QR board, has fuelled speculation about Mr Ludwig's sway over the body and the Labor state governments while he was a director.

Mr Andrews, a QR director from 2005 to 2009, has also told the inquiry he unsuccessfully pushed for legal advice to pursue gaming giant UNiTAB over its practice of deducting agency costs of about $30 million a year from the money it owed QR for the right to wager on races in the state.

Details: Published: 14 August 2013; Created: 14 August 2013

The Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry continues to investigate matters within its terms of reference, which may be viewed at

www.racinginquiry.qld.gov.au/about-the-commission/terms-of-reference.

The Commission has obtained many thousands of documents and also sworn witness statements from a large number of people. It is pursuing many avenues of investigation. However, the Commission believes that there may well be people who have information relevant to the terms of reference but who have not yet been identified by the Commission.

The Commission is aware of the vigorous and detailed debate concerning racing industry matters which often occurs within the letsgohorseracing forum. The Commission thanks letsgohorseracing for agreeing to publish this notice, for the attention of the people engaging in those debates or otherwise accessing this website, in case any such people are not already aware of the general invitation previously published for relevant information to be provided to the Commission.

If any person reading this notice does have information (including documents) they believe to be relevant to the Terms of Inquiry, it should be given to the Commission as soon as possible. In practical terms, any such information needs to be received by the Commission by 31 August 2013. If anyone has relevant information but cannot meet that deadline, they are asked to contact the Commission’s Secretary urgently to discuss alternative arrangements.

The Commission seeks primarily to obtain information in the form of written statements in which the informant sets out relevant facts and swears to their truth. However, the Commission is also prepared, if necessary, to receive communications (in confidence or otherwise) identifying particular issues which are thought relevant to the inquiry or particular persons from whom the informant believes the Commission should be seeking information.

The Commission therefore asks, in this forum, that anyone who believes they can provide relevant information to the Commission please contact the Secretary to the Commission urgently: by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or by telephone on 1300 763 087.

Details: Published: 26 June 2013; Created: 26 June 2013

RACING Queensland (RQ) has received notification that Biosecurity Queensland is managing a Hendra virus incident in the Brisbane Valley.

A thoroughbred broodmare was noticeably unwell early on Sunday, June 23, 2013. The following day, the mare was humanely euthanized and samples collected for Hendra virus testing, which returned a positive result.

Read more: HENDRA VIRUS CASE IN SE QLD

Details: Published: 07 June 2013; Created: 07 June 2013

FOLLOWING the Queensland Thoroughbred Racing Board (QTRB) meeting on Friday, $1.2 million has been allocated to progress design and engineering works for the Eagle Farm track reconstruction.

On June 2, the overarching Racing Queensland board requested the QTRB consider the Eagle Farm track reconstruction plan and action an outcome to progress this project as soon as possible.

Details: Published: 06 June 2013; Created: 06 June 2013

PATINACK Farm is disappointed with yesterday’s media reports describing Magic Millions National Yearling Sale as a farce and has issued the following statement.

The negativity surrounding the reduction sale in some parts is all too predictable and it’s disappointing to read such biased opinion.

These comments are totally inaccurate and to say the sale has been a "farce” is way off the mark. One article draws a list of withdrawn horses for Friday, but several are not even owned by Patinack.

Details: Published: 05 June 2013; Created: 05 June 2013

RACING Minister Steve Dickson, speaking after delivery of the State Budget, said the rejuvenation of country racing in Queensland remained one of his highest priorities.

“This financial year we are providing $1 million to fund 20 country race meetings, as well as providing $2.5 million for the Queensland Thoroughbred Investment Scheme (QTIS),” he said.

Details: Published: 23 May 2013; Created: 23 May 2013

THE Honourable Justice Margaret White has been appointed as Commissioner of the Racing Inquiry.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said the Governor In Council approved the appointment today.

“Serious allegations have been raised about the activities in the racing industry under the former Labor Government and the Newman Government is committed to getting to the bottom of it,” Mr Bleijie said.

Details: Published: 15 May 2013; Created: 15 May 2013

ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie intends to recommend to the Governor In Council the appointment of the Honourable Justice Margaret J White as Commissioner of the Racing inquiry.

Mr Bleijie said the Newman Government was committed to investigating activities of the racing industry under the former Government and Justice White was the right person for the inquiry.

“Justice White is one of the most senior judges in Queensland and has served on the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal respectively for more than 20 years,” Mr Bleijie said.

Details: Published: 06 May 2013; Created: 06 May 2013

THE LNP Government has set aside a budget of $3 million for a Commission of Inquiry to begin in July into the running of the racing industry in Queensland when Labor was in power.

Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie announced the terms of the inquiry today confirming that it would look at procurement of processes, Government arrangements with the Board and former directors of Racing Queensland and contracts that were awarded.

No Commissioner has yet been chosen for the inquiry which will run from July 1 to September 30.

Details: Published: 06 May 2013; Created: 06 May 2013

CHAMPION trainer Robbie Heathcote has always been very accessible to the media and racing public but that could change dramatically following a stewards’ inquiry into the comments he made on a website blog.

Heathcote was fined $500 on a charge of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing after criticizing a ride by top jockey Larry Cassidy in a column he wrote on the Horse Racing Only website.

The inquiry was instigated after Cassidy lodged a complaint against the comments made about his ride on Listen Son in the Victory Stakes on April 27 – in which the trainer was basically echoing the sentiments of many others who watch Brisbane racing closely.