BREAKING BARRIERS

REGIONAL CHIEF’S BOLD PLAN TO BOOST HOOPS

A NORTH Queensland racing identity has developed a bold plan to ease the bush jockey crisis plaguing the state’s regional racetracks.

But it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

Townsville Turf Club chairman Mal Petrofski believes North Queensland needs a jockey training centre in the region to help grow grassroots hoops in the bush.

He already has support from local inudstry members with trainer and former jockey Alby Molino adamant he would take on an apprentice under the scheme.

But Racing Queensland has dodged the idea and instead shone a light on growing jockey ranks.