Resilient Townsville club back in action next week

By Josh Spasaro

Participants in the Townsville Greyhound Racing Club community have no shortage of resilience and desire to help their friends in need, just like the victorious Maroons rugby league team.

They were the thoughts of popular trainer and life member, Rhonda Essery, when she spoke about the resumption of racing at the venue from next Tuesday night.

The North Queensland club has seen breaks in its schedule on several occasions this year. 

But, competition will return on July 15 in a welcome boost to trainers, owners and supporters, according to Essery.

“We’re just getting on top of it now. It’s been a long haul, but the club is just getting back on its feet now and all the trainers and owners,” Essery said.

Essery said she was looking forward to starting Gidgee Bug, a promising 18-month-old dog who won on debut last time Townsville hosted greyhound racing on June 27.

“It’ll be good because after everything that’s happened, we’ll be running right through until Christmas,” Essery said.

“I can’t wait. I’ve got a few young ones starting. I bought Gidgee Bug and he won his first race.

“I’m looking forward to him getting back. And, I’ve got a couple over from Hobart.

“Hopefully I’ll have a few dogs running and step them up to 498 metres and see what we can do for the Townsville Cup.”

After a tough year of multiple setbacks, Essery said the morale among participants at Townsville Greyhound Racing Club was still high.

“We all try and help each other out at the track. If someone needs help, we all step forward and try to help each other because it’s been a long haul,” Essery said.

“Everybody knows what we’ve all been through and the club is just starting to pick up a bit now. It was a lot of work to get us back there and everybody came in when we had to move kennels.

“Now the spirit is high. We’re hoping we can do well. Everybody’s back. We’re just hoping now that we all rally around each other and keep going.

“Then we’ll make the industry up here very strong. Everybody’s getting new dogs. There are a lot of dogs up here now.”

Earlier this year, there was a closure of the track to replace the guide rail.

The new rail was a welcome addition. 

The eight-hour trip from Townsville to Rockhampton can also take its toll on trainers and this was a necessary trip when there was no racing at the North Queensland venue.

“My husband Stephen goes down with a trailer load. He does all the travelling for me. I just stay back here and run the show at home," she said. 

“I stay home with the 30 dogs that stay here.”

After Essery and her peers have overcome so many setbacks in 2025, she believes the Townsville Cup Final will be a memorable one on September 12.

“Everybody will be rallying around it to make it a successful night,” she said.

“It’s hard to win a race. And, starting on a corner, people just don’t realise the 510 metres at 'Rocky' is easier than the 498 metres in Townsville.

“Every year it’s a great time for the Cup. I’m hoping we just do our best like we do every year and get a lot of southern trainers to come up.”