A major greyhound racing event in Queensland has been cancelled after officials deemed the track at the newly constructed facility, The Q, “unsuitable for trialling or racing” for the second time within a week. The Brisbane Cup, initially postponed due to a “watering issue,” has now been officially cancelled, raising concerns about the ongoing safety of the venue located in Ipswich.
The Q, a significant investment of approximately $85 million, has faced scrutiny since trials began in March 2023, with reports of several greyhound fatalities during pre-opening assessments. Racing Queensland announced on Monday that racing would be paused at the facility to facilitate an independent evaluation of the track and to conduct necessary remediation work.
Ongoing Safety Issues at The Q
In a statement issued on Thursday, Racing Queensland confirmed that following assessments by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards, the Q2 Parklands track was deemed unsuitable for racing. Consequently, all upcoming meetings and trials have been suspended indefinitely. The organization emphasized its commitment to delivering a “consistent and suitable racing surface” before allowing events to resume.
Despite considerations for rescheduling meetings at Albion Park, Racing Queensland indicated that operational capacity made this option unfeasible. Racing will continue on the facility’s other two tracks while the issues at Q2 are addressed.
Acting Minister for Racing, Steven Minnikin, expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the Brisbane Cup, noting that the facility was commissioned and constructed by the previous Labor government. He assured that the new government would prioritize animal welfare standards and has initiated independent investigations into the track’s operations.
Concerns from Local Representatives
Local representatives have voiced their concerns regarding safety at The Q. Jennifer Howard, Labor’s Member for Ipswich, described the incidents occurring at the track as “not acceptable.” She called on Minister for Racing, Tim Mander, and Racing Queensland to take immediate action to address these safety issues.
Howard criticized claims made during the track’s launch that touted it as “the safest track in the country,” stating, “This claim is nauseatingly repeated in advertising all over Ipswich and online.” She urged the government to remove any promotional materials that made these assertions and to implement “real steps” to ensure the welfare of all animals involved in the industry.
As the situation develops, Racing Queensland continues to focus on ensuring the safety and integrity of greyhound racing in Queensland, asserting that the welfare of the animals involved is a top priority. The public and stakeholders alike are awaiting further updates on the remediation efforts and the future of racing at The Q.
