THE multi-million dollar ‘The Q’ greyhound facility at Purga opens to the public next month with some of the world’s safest animal welfare practices.
The greyhounds race on one of three specially designed tracks which are wider with cambers designed by the University of Technology in Sydney to suit dogs of all abilities.
A double-armed lure has been introduced - the first time in Queensland - to encourage the dogs to be more spread out and to race away from the rail.
The state-of-the art 39 hectare complex also includes air conditioned kennels for the greyhounds, more water around the track for animal care and a special area for dogs to cool off and recover after racing.
Another key welfare factor is that every greyhound must run a trial on the track they are nominated for before being allowed to race at The Q. That doesn’t happen anywhere else in Australia.
Racing Queensland official Jason Scott was most excited about what would be delivered on the 39 hectare site at the former home ground of the Swifts Rugby League club.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s the best greyhound facility in the world,” Scott said.
While he praised what Ipswich and Albion Park has provided, Scott said The Q brought the sport “into the 21st century” with its modern racing amenities.
“We’ve learnt a lot more about building greyhound tracks,” Scott said, noting that racing venues like the Ipswich Showgrounds were built more than 50 years ago.
“Yeah, we’ve had a couple of injuries but in the end this will be a very safe facility.”
The Q is one of the few centres in the world with a straight track, a one-turn track, and a two-turn track to suit the size, age, running gait and abilities of different greyhounds.
Q1 Lakeside is a one-turn track with races over 352m, 390m, 457m, 550m and 642m.
Q2 Parklands track races are over 520m, 600m and 710m with two major turns and a shorter straight.
Q Straight track races are over 300m and 350m on a track that is 12m across – the widest in Australia.
Four days of racing a week started last week on the one-turn track with trials on the other new racing surfaces planned in forthcoming days.
“By the first of May, we’re hoping to be running eight meetings a week,” Scott said.
A bonus for the launch of The Q will be the Winter Racing Carnival starting in the middle of May before other major events like the Nationals in August, featuring the best dogs in Australia.
Scott said the public would be invited to check out the new facility from early next month before the grand opening on June 7.
Racing Queensland said greyhound racing contributed more than $196 million to the Ipswich and Brisbane economies each year.
The Q is being run by a Queensland Greyhound Racing Club board including members from the Brisbane and Ipswich clubs that ran separate racing events in both cities for many years.
Scott was confident the new arrangement would serve the sport well at an accessible new entertainment venue with a licensed club and pokies.
“It’s a great corridor,” Scott said of the site being close to major highways.
“What we need to do as a club and an industry is embed ourselves in that Ipswich community and get people going to the club. I think that’s really important.
“A lot of our success will depend on how we go … bringing the people of Ipswich along with the ride for us.”