November 19, 2024
Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green has offered to resign if it would “appease” Racing Queensland (RQ) which this week stripped the club of three 2025 meetings.
The club was notified on Monday that the scheduled meetings for February 15, April 19 and May 17 had been cancelled.
However, at this stage, the December 14 meeting looks to be going ahead as planned in three weeks’ time.
RQ issued the club with a “Control Body Direction” at the start of the month after concerns were raised with it.
Nanango Race Club was given the opportunity to act however RQ decided the response was unsatisfactory and proceeded with the cancellation of the meetings.
Mr Green said the problem was linked to confusion over the timing of a “declaration of remuneration” lodged with the Office of Fair Training, which also had to be sent to members.
He said this had been done and he thought it was “end of the matter”, however, RQ had still gone ahead with the cancellation of the meetings due to lack of communication.
The roots of the issue appear to be linked to an ongoing dispute between the Nanango Race Club and several trainers which has been on the boil for almost two years.
Mr Green said one person had made multiple complaints against him to both the Office of Fair Trading and to RQ.
“There has been a two-year campaign against us, particularly against me,” Mr Green said.
Attempts to oust the current Race Club committee failed at both the 2023 and 2024 Annual General Meetings of the association.
Mr Green said he did not believe the club had any pathway to appeal against RQ’s decision to cancel the three meetings.
However, if the decision was not reversed, the track would “just be sitting there” from December through to at least next August, he said.
This would disadvantage jockeys, owners, local businesses and the not-for-profit associations which raised funds at the meetings, including Kingaroy Rotary and the QCWA.
Mr Green sent an email on Monday night asking whether RQ would consider reinstating the three meetings if he offered to resign.
He said a special general meeting could be called so a new committee could start afresh in the new calendar year.
“That’s just for the benefit of the club,” he said. “I’ve put 21 years into this club. This is my 10th year being as president; and I’ve made $750,000 improvements to the place since I was president.”
Mr Green said he had not received a response back yet for the Racing Queensland.
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