The decision that changed the future of the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club

By Jordan Gerrans

Those that call the shots at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club refer to it as the decision that shifted the fortunes of the sport.

As the dog industry in South East Queensland prepares to celebrate 50 years of racing in Brisbane this week, club officials have reflected on a key move that has set up the code to flourish into the future.

To celebrate 50 years of greyhound racing, the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club will showcase an anniversary event on Thursday evening.

The gala night will celebrate the legacy of greyhound racing in Queensland, which commenced at The Gabba Greyhound Racing Club in 1972 to 1993, before crossing to the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club from 1993 until today.

While the move from the Gabba to Albion Park is a well-publicised, it was another piece of land in the Woolloongabba area that might be just as important.

Long after the greyhounds had stopped running around at the Gabba, the club still owned a piece of land near the ground, which at one stage was costing the club money to hold on to.

Eventually, through consultation with the club’s members and committee, the difficult call was made to sell off the land in 2013.

BGRC Chairman Les Bein believes it was a turning point to establish a sustainable future for the entire industry in the Sunshine State.

“The club has been going ahead in leaps and bounds since then,” Bein said.

“We put in a strategy of investing very, very wisely with a broker – with low risk – and it has really powered us along.

“Our bank balance has really improved over the years, everything has worked for us.”

Following that bold call, the BGRC now run their own bar and restaurant at Albion Park – Pacers and Chasers – as well as managing and preparing their own track.

When current BGRC CEO Luke Gatehouse started at the club, they did not manage those aspects of their own club and he feels it has been a game-changer.

“We have really secured our future at the club over the last ten years, in terms of our finances, which is a great credit to the founders of the Gabba club, who purchased the land that we were able to sell in 2013,” Gatehouse said.

“We have been able to invest that money to ensure we are financially sound organisation, with no debt, which puts us in an excellent position every year.

“These are really big advancements for the club being able to prepare and provide maintenance to our track at Albion Park.”

Chairman Bein has been on the board for the last nine years after decades in the industry as an owner, sponsor and punter.

He believes transitioning from a committee structure to a board about five years ago has also helped their governance and direction as a club.

“Prior to that we struggled a bit as an organisation,” Bein said.

“Now, the fact that we have money, we are able to do things with the club, we have taken over bar and catering, refurbished the whole Albion Park and made it a pleasant place for people to attend and watch the races.

“The club has never been in a better place.”

Bein pointed to record prize money on offer during the 2022 TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival, increased focus on the safety for dogs as well as the care showed for the animal in retirement as ways the code has grown in recent years.

“I think we are the envy of the rest of the country,” Bein said.

“Our prize money is at sensational levels and we now have a Group 1 race that is $350,000 to the winner, that is unheard of.

“Anybody that wants to get into greyhound racing in this era – they would be foolish if they didn’t.

“Everything on the track and the incentives there to breed, everything is good.

“Greyhound racing in Queensland has never been in a better place.”

The club went back to their roots earlier this year for the TAB Queensland Greyhound of the Year awards – hosting the show-piece event at the Gabba.

It gave participants, administrators and followers of the code an opportunity to think back and reminisce about how far the sport has come since the first race was run at the iconic Brisbane venue half a century ago.

Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club Vice-Chairman Bob Lambert was there on the first night of racing in 1972 and cannot wait for the anniversary celebration this Thursday.

Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell echoed Bein’s comments around how much growth the sport of greyhound racing has experienced over the decades.

“It is amazing how far they have come as a code, new facilities with a great race track at Albion Park,” Parnell said.

“It is great to see the transition of greyhound racing and leading the sport nationally.”

Event Information:

Event Date: 2 June 2022

Event Time: 5:00pm – 10:00pm

General Admission: Free

Feature Race Event: $50,000 BGRC 50th Anniversary Trophy.