New stables for Richmond Turf Club

The Richmond Turf Club is home to brand new stables, in a huge boost for the country race club. 

Sixteen new stalls and two tack rooms have been installed through Round 2 of the Country Club Asset Funding program. 

The $171,000 project to install the stables saw the replacement of the existing aged and non-compliant facilities by Bow’s Barn, with local builder Greg Lonsdale preparing and installing the bored concrete piers. 

Racing Queensland put $116,055 towards the project, with the Richmond Turf Club and Richmond Shire Council also contributing. 

Racing Minister Tim Mander said the new stables and tack rooms were important upgrades for the North West-based club. 

"Country racing is the lifeblood of the industry across the Sunshine State, and we are pleased to see these projects delivered at Richmond,” Mr Mander said. 

“More than 80 of Queensland’s 119 racing clubs are in communities where a race meeting is the biggest or second biggest annual event, signifying the vital importance of our investment in these asset and maintenance projects. 

“Racing also helps to support almost 15,000 jobs across the state, and the Country Club Asset Funding program ensures that employment is sustained in the industry.”

RQ worked closely with Richmond Turf Club president Nick Buick and the council representative Phillip Kennedy to customise the facility to suit the club’s needs.

Mr Buick said the upgrades would be warmly welcomed by industry participants ahead of the club’s next race day on Saturday, August 16.

“It's a huge upgrade, everyone that's seen them is impressed and they are raving about how much of an asset it’s going to be for the next 50 years or more,” Mr Buick said.

“It’s a big win for the club and the community of Richmond - we want trainers to be based in these small towns as they bring a huge benefit to any town like Richmond and any club like ours. 

“We want to have horses out here being trained and working, but without the facilities, we were never going to be able to host them. 

“It’s great that Racing Queensland have made that investment in partnership with the council and the turf club to get this project done, and that an investment has been made in Richmond and in racing in North-West Queensland in general. 

“I want to thank Racing Queensland, and also the Richmond Shire Council - we couldn’t have done it without them as they have contributed to building the pad where it's located and they've also contributed financially to the cost…it's been a massive team effort.” 

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