Luke Spicer to represent RQ at Asian Racing Conference
Luke Spicer is used to travelling thousands of kilometres around the Sunshine State, but it is a journey to Saudi Arabia where he will look to learn how Queensland can make its mark in the future of horse racing.
Racing Queensland’s Regional Thoroughbred Tracks and Racecourse Supervisor will represent the organisation at the 41st Asian Racing Conference, to be held in Riyadh from February 9-14.
The event brings together the region’s leaders in racing, with attendees hearing from a range of international speakers who will offer high-level perspectives on the future of the sport and its role in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
It will also include roundtables with industry leaders, panel discussions, functions and the chance to witness the Saudi Cup meeting on Saturday, February 14.
Spicer, who has been with RQ since March 2024, said he was looking forward to flying the flag for the Sunshine State.
“It is a huge honour working under Racing Queensland and to have this opportunity to go over there and represent RQ and what they do and get a different view is fantastic,” Spicer said.
“I also want to show people that RQ is constantly interested in development, striving to be better and looking at different ways to do things.”
Spicer will attend as a scholar of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.
Across Queensland, he regularly travels to racetracks around the state, inspecting the dirt track of Gregory Downs in the Far North, all the way to the grass of Texas on the Queensland-New South Wales border.
Spicer said he was keen to gain some insight into some of the world’s biggest racing jurisdictions and apply those practices to Queensland’s regional racecourses.
“With all the different keynote speakers, I am keen to learn about different procedures that go on within racing, whether it's internally or externally or through track managers and jockeys,” Spicer said.
“I've never done anything racing-related overseas, so it's definitely going to be an eye opener in regards to how different countries deal with different situations and procedures in order to achieve a high level of racing.”
Acting Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray congratulated Spicer on the scholarship.
“Luke Spicer is an invaluable member of the Racing Queensland team, and his efforts were even rewarded by being named RQ’s Everyday Champion for 2025,” Murray said.
“His dedication, work ethic and hundreds of hours he spends on the road every year make him the perfect representative for RQ at this year’s Asian Racing Conference.
“I congratulate him on this scholarship and I look forward to hearing some of the valuable insights he will gain from this opportunity and how we can apply them to our own practices here in Queensland.”
It comes on the back of champion Queensland jockey Angela Jones being selected to ride in the International Jockeys’ Challenge at the Saudi Cup meeting.
Click here for more information on the Asian Racing Conference.
