Dogs always battled

CAIRNS Greyhound Racing Club’s president admits to being surprised it took this long for Racing Queensland to pull stumps on the sport in the Far North.

At the club’s AGM on Sunday, Racing Queensland informed the club its licence will not be extended beyond December 31, 2018, with their final race meeting set for this Friday night.

Club president Jeff Down, who has been involved with Far North greyhounds for almost two decades, always thought this day would come.

The region’s low greyhound population and an insufficient number of trainers travelling from Townsville to race led to 13 meetings being abandoned since July 1 this year, with Racing Queensland deciding racing could no longer be sustained.

“The dogs have done pretty well to last as long as they have,” Down said.

“I have been involved with the club for 18 years and the numbers have always been the issue, dogs and trainers in the area. There were a fair few upset people at the AGM on Sunday but Racing Queensland have handled it well.

“The situation will get a lot of people down in the dumps.

“It is sad for an industry to just stop like that.”

The Cannon Park track will remain open and operational as a training and trialling facility. However, Down said there was a mixed response among local trainers if they would continue to train in the Far North and travel to Townsville to race.

RQ Chief Operating Officer Adam Wallish said the decision to not license the club had not been taken lightly.

“RQ will work with greyhound participants to identify and meet trainers’ needs moving forward,” Wallish said.

Down hopes the club can go out on a high this Friday night and celebrate the 45 years of history.

“You might get a few people looking to run their dogs so they can be the last race winner in Cairns and create some history,” Down said.