Queensland industry pleads for QRIC rethink with ‘racing people’

Racing industry participants are crying out for a change in direction from Queensland’s integrity watchdog, saying they need to appoint a “racing person” to the commissioner role following the resignation of some high-profile police officers from the job.

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has been without a full-time commissioner since the resignation of Ross Barnett last year with Mark Ainsworth working in an acting role up until his retirement in June. Paul Brown currently fills the acting commissioner role with the Queensland Government still on the hunt for suitable candidates.

With an annual budget close to $30m, QRIC has been a bone of contention for industry participants, however a number of top trainers contacted by Racenet believe the pending commissioner appointment could be the most crucial in its short history.

Trainer Rob Heathcote said it was imperative to get somebody who understands racing to lead the commission and help to best implement high standards across the board.

“We need a racing person in the chair, somebody who understands racing to try and help correct the last five years,” he said.

“My opinions on this organisation are well known, it is an abject failure at upholding the integrity in the industry.”

Racing Minister Grace Grace said applications for the position closed on June 28.

“An executive selection panel has been set up and is currently short-listing candidates,” she said. “There’s no further update at this stage.”

Asked for comment, Queensland’s Australian Trainers Association representative Cameron Partington said there were a number of QRIC-related issues that could be helped by the appointment of a commissioner with a racing background.

Former QRIC acting commissioner Mark Ainsworth and former commissioner Ross Barnett prior to their departures. Picture: The Courier-Mail.Source:News Corp Australia

“We had a great person there in Mark Ainsworth who developed racing experience in those years he had been there and unfortunately he wasn’t able to be appointed, now we are sitting here waiting for an appointment,” he said.

“We still have the appeals process which is under review. Every day that goes past there is another jockey or trainer that appeals it and doesn’t do their time.

“The connection between the stewards and the integrity department of QRIC, there seems to be a massive gap. There are some shortcomings across the whole area of QRIC that aren’t helped by the fact there is no leader there.”

It comes as chief steward Peter Chadwick announced leniency will be given to overweight jockeys throughout the southeast Queensland lockdown period.

Jockeys riding between 54kg and 55.5kg will be allowed to ride 1kg overweight while those at 56kg and 56.5kg will be permitted a half-kilo over.

Thursday’s scheduled meeting between Racing Queensland, the Brisbane Racing Club and key industry stakeholders has also been postponed for an additional week with the state of the Eagle Farm track set to be a point of contention for even longer due to southeast Queensland’s extended lockdown.

Originally published asIndustry pleads for QRIC rethink

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