Yes Dan.....The whelpings are in there this month.......Stevo

27 Nov, 2008.
NEWLY appointed GQL Director Paul Felgate is backing the greyhound racing industry in Queensland believing it has a great future.
Our participants just need to realise a bit of short term sufferance will end up with long-term gain, he said.
Felgate is grateful he has been fully accepted by the industry as a Director of Greyhounds Queensland Ltd.
Its a great honour for me to be on the Board of Directors even though I am passionate about my kennel of dogs, said Felgate.
I have not had one negative from my appointment. I was a bit sceptical at first because of what I felt might be the reaction of the industry.
But I feel they are happy to see someone with heaps of greyhounds as a voice for them.
He is fully aware there is division within the Queensland greyhound industry.
I fully agree this industry needs a one-turn racetrack and as soon as we can get it, he said.
As a former trainer myself, I dont feel 395m and 431m racing at Albion Park and Ipswich is ideal.
Felgate said he had been brought up to speed by Acting Board Chair Kerry Watson, and GQL general manager Darren Beavis on plans for the industry.
He attended his first Directors Board meeting yesterday.
Felgate took it upon himself some weeks ago to meet with Queensland developer and Harness Board Director Kevin Seymour about the Albion Park complex.
Greyhound and harness racing share the complex which has been beset with problems in recent months, specially with the closure of its main grandstand, the Russ Hinze Stand and the fact this stand now must be demolished.
Kevin has got some very good ideas for Albion Park as well, said Felgate.
He said Seymour told him he had a plan to sell off two parcels of land at Albion Park each for future development.
Seymour then suggested part of this money could be used to demolish the Russ Hinze Stand, most be used to put up a new grandstand and refurbish the Pacesetters Bar area into a licensed club.
Seymour said this would then leave an amount which could be split between the greyhound and harness boards.
But Felgate believes the current real estate climate may not be ideal for the Seymour plan.
The previous Board of the Greyhound Racing Authority under Phil Bennett got it right, said Felgate.
They should have sold the entire Albion Park complex ages ago when Phil suggested it and the price would have been much greater than it is now in a depressed market.
Felgate said he personally felt the ideal scenario was to sell the entire Albion Park complex, but this would be determined by the real estate market.
Of GQLs plans for the development of greyhound racing at Logan City, Felgate agrees totally.
He and Beavis met with engineers, a builders rep and earth moving contractors at the Logan site on Tuesday.
I know there is a move within the industry to get something up and running, a one-turn track that will do for now, he said.
But this cannot be the way to go. Im certain we cannot go to the State Government with a proposal for a virtual trial track and canteen.
The government is after votes with an election coming up next year. And we cannot possibly go to them with anything short of a proper proposal.
What is planned for Logan will be stage one of a showcase for our industry.
It will take the pressure off Ipswich and Albion Park.
I cant see the point or sense of starting up Beenleigh or Toowoomba again, as suggested by some members of the industry, because costs may reach up to $1 million.
GQL has only $2 million in reserve and considering the future demolition costs at Albion Park may reach $4 million, of which GQL would be expected to pay half in the near future, the suggestions of Beenleigh and Toowoomba are not viable.
Felgate said he was aware industry members had met with local council mayors, members of parliament etc in a bid to get a track built.
Every council in the land will welcome you with open arms and ask you to help build their showgrounds and then make you pay rent. This is not what we want for the industry.
Weve been there and dont want to go back down that path.
Look at the proposal to reopen Toowoomba.
It will cost $130,000 to put in Sky, there are no kennels, no lights, no lure system, no tote, no management and the trots are building an internal track for training.
Our participants just need to realise a bit of short term sufferance will end up with long-term gain, said Felgate.
Felgate is a greyhound man, knows the needs of the industry because they are his needs too, and is anxious to help achieve these.
Thats why I accepted the position as a Director at GQL, he said.

Is there anyone from the watchdog committee that would like to give the rest of QLD participents an update as to where things are at?

Brian C Kutner wrote:

Sue, I will make the enquiries to your questions at our next meeting. Sorry if sometimes I don't answer immediately, I travel away quite a bit nearly every week and don't check the site whilst away. BK

Hi Steve

It's almost 4 months now since I posted the above two questions and still no answer from Brian, perhaps you could answer them?

They are more than likely hot on the campaign trail and looking for votes. Will be interesting to see what the other side will do for the sport. Can report back on the outcome Sunday night.

This shadow minister was once on the board at the Toowoomba track so he does know greyhound racing. That is a bit of help to the industry.

It does help when they know about greyhound racing

His feelings that the Albion Park trots are there to stay and we might end up with 3 tracks....LOGAN, IPSWICH & ALBION PARK.
He sees it as hard for the dogs to get out of AP the way things are at present.

But then where will they find the money for a 3rd track without the sale of AP?

On another note Bundy has 10 races this week in the lead up to the Young Guns. Shows people will still travel up here from Brisbane & the Northern rivers if the money is there. Maybe they might also continue to travel/race here if it was to be TAB meetings also.

Shows the intelligence of the woman when she referred to herself as the CHAIRMAN in the aforementioned article.