Townsville set to return to racing

By Pat McLeod

As greyhound racing returns to Townsville this week, club president Michael Fusco adds ‘weather forecaster’ to his long list of daily duties.

“We had 311 millimeters of rain heading into the weekend and then a couple of storms across the weekend,” Fusco said.

“Despite that, the track is still in fantastic condition. Our track curator Carl Kay is doing a fantastic job. He has been baby-sitting the track in recent days doing everything he can to ensure we start racing again on Tuesday night after the Christmas and New Year break.

“The track really is in top condition, a great racing surface. All we can do is work with what we have got and hope the weather gods look after us.”

Fusco took on the reins as president during the year from long-standing Townsville boss Gary Heath, who stood down from the role after being appointed to the board of Racing Queensland.

For Fusco it was a case of: ‘If you want something done, give it to busy person’.

The passionate greyhound devotee has a hectic business life, currently running two news agencies, a post office and a vending business.

“I was very happy to take on the president’s role because I just love greyhound racing,” he said.

“The fellow trainers up here have been very good to work with. The great thing about greyhound trainers is that they will leave you in no doubt about what they think.

“If they have a problem, they will let you know about it. But, they have also been reasonable and work hard for the club. Racing Queensland is working closely with us.

“In fact, the relationship between participants up here and RQ at the moment is the best that I have experienced in my 25 years involved in the sport.

“And, that is largely because RQ officials were constantly travelling to Townsville through 2025. We know that they understand what our issues are and that progress is being made.”

Fusco said relocation to a new track was ‘the dream’, but one he wants to see to fruition during his tenure as president.

“Both RQ and the club are working hard on this,” he said.

“I can’t give a timeline, but I have no doubt that it will happen. Greyhound racing is a key industry to this region.

“With about 300 racing greyhounds here now we already provide a very strong wagering product and also a solid income stream to the many businesses who benefit from the industry locally.

“Obviously having our own track would mean we are masters of our own destiny and would provide an even better product.

“Currently we race at the Showgrounds twice a week and as a club we are also pushing for a third weekly meeting on a regular basis.”

The club had a three-week shutdown across the Christmas and New Year period. 

“We are all very keen to get back to racing after the break," the club boss said. 

The main race on Tuesday night’s 12-race program is a 498 metre event that features several hopefuls for the upcoming North Queensland Country Cup, including Heath Ardle’s Southpaw Mcgraw (currently in the care of Steve Scott), Time Passages (trained by Brad Belford), Jackknifed (Greta Thomson) and Maisie Moon Moo (Tony Parker).

The heats of the North Queensland Country Cup will be held on Tuesday week with the Final on January 20.

The first four runners from both Townsville and Rockhampton regional Cup Finals will contest the $26,500 Country Cup Final at The Q on February 5, the highlight night of the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival.

Fusco said he had considered relocating his Brisbane-based chaser No More Beer, trained by Brad Woods, to Townsville for a Country Cup campaign, but ran out of time to ‘tick’ the 75-day qualifying period.

Currently Fusco owns, or part-owns, 14 dogs, including the Hayley Wooler-trained Scud, who will have his second Townsville start on Tuesday night over 380 metres.

Scud was a recent purchase from the Brisbane-based Jemma Daley kennel.

“I really enjoy training, but have just been too busy,” Fusco said.

“I recently moved from Rangewood (just west of Townsville) to Mount Louisa (a Townsville suburb), where I have a couple of kennels and plan to start training again in this new year.”