January 16, 2025
The mass resignation of the Nanango Racing Club’s executive committee on New Year’s Eve has left a question mark over the future of thoroughbred racing at the Lee Park Racecourse.
The resignation follows an ongoing dispute between a group of members and the former executive committee which has resulted in two fiery AGMs over the past two years.
The sitting executive was re-elected at both meetings despite very public campaigns to oust them.
The initial dispute arose ahead of the 2023 AGM, sparked mainly by the closure in March of that year of the club’s training track by Racing Queensland (RQ) due to safety concerns.
It came to a head late last year when RQ stripped Nanango of three previously allocated 2025 race meetings, claiming the club had failed to satisfactorily address an RQ direction.
Nanango Racing Club president Andrew Green insisted the club had fulfilled its requirements but admitted a breakdown in communications had occurred.
At the time, Mr Green offered to resign if it would mean that RQ would re-allocate the meetings.
The whole Nanango Racing Club committee quit on New Year’s Eve but the race meetings have not been reinstated.
Kingaroy-based trainer Debra Corbett, who formerly trained her horses at Nanango but shifted to Wondai after the training track was closed, said an informal meeting of association members was held last Sunday, followed by a smaller meeting on Tuesday, to work out who would like to nominate for positions on a new Nanango Racing Club management committee.
“We’re waiting now for (Racing Queensland). They’ve told us they’ll call a Special General Meeting shortly, so we’re just waiting for that,” Ms Corbett said.
“We’re just waiting for Racing Queensland. They’ve told us that they will give us a date for the Special General (meeting) so that’s what we’re waiting on.”
southburnett.com.au understands that RQ has put forward suggestions to the association’s members about how to move forward but cannot call this meeting.
The suggestions have included that some of the members of the old executive withdraw their resignations and then appoint new members who could call a special meeting.
One idea was that several South Burnett councillors – already members of the association – could oversee the club until a new management committee was elected.
However, so far none of the New Year’s Eve resignations have been withdrawn which has created an apparent stalemate in the long-running dispute.
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