Fellow members of the Toowoomba Turf Club, it is with great pleasure that I report to you that the TTC has had an excellent year of racing and operation. It is always a great pleasure to report a profit for the club and taking into consideration the effects of the continuing drought, the net profit of $527,221 after depreciation of $160,243 is a very pleasing one.
As this year’s profit was in line with last year, it allows the committee to continue with its 5 year plan to upgrade and modernize the club’s facilities including our training and race tracks. I’d like to acknowledge an excellent result from the finance committee where the majority of work is done by the Treasurer Tom Warren and his assistant Ray Anderson. Also a very fine effort from our chairman of sponsorship Ken Gordon who has worked hard to deliver a good result with sponsorship income of $527,124.
The members would be aware that the Government has allocated $12million to QRL for the installation of synthetic tracks. Our thanks go to member for Toowoomba North, Mr Kerry Shine for ensuring that Toowoomba was recognized in the official Government press release guaranteeing Clifford Park a synthetic training and/or race track. I would like to thank the chairman of Works Mr. Norm Pankhurst and our Deputy Chairman Mr. Col Zeller for their time and effort into vital research re synthetic surfaces world wide; in particular their warm association with the USQ and the proposed development of a locally owned synthetic race track surface. I have had previous concerns about the lack of consultation between QRL and the Toowoomba Turf Club, but have been assured of recent times that any future contractual arrangements will necessitate full consultation between QRL and TTC. The committee of the TTC has a duty of care that the synthetic track product being recommended by QRL is satisfactory to the needs of the members and the stakeholders (e.g. trainers, owners etc.). I have completed an exhaustive consultation process with the trainers based at Clifford Park who have shown a keen interest in being supplied all information regarding synthetic track surfaces. This consultation will continue throughout the project until a final decision has been made.
It’s with great pleasure that I can report that our application for 66 new stables on-course has received building approval from the Toowoomba City Council. We are currently awaiting formal permission from QRL and once that is received we will commence construction. Having received a number of enquiries from members as to whether QRL was providing any funding for the project a formal request was made to QRL. Our club was advised that QRL policy was not to provide funding for our stable project. The club had included the funds for this project in its budget and the cost of the stables will be paid for without borrowing, at an estimated cost of $750,000 including car parks and landscaping.
As the drought continues, we have worked hard to ensure our training tracks and course proper are maintained to the highest level. I believe in the past 12 months this has been accomplished and recognition must be given to the course ranger Ben Saunders and his staff. The gardens at Clifford Park have suffered with the drought and for this I apologize, but unfortunately there will be no change until the drought is finally broken.
I’d like to thank the chairman of QRL Mr. Bob Bentley his committee and his officers for providing logistical support over the past 12 months, and I would hope that during the next 12 months QRL can establish some certainty regarding the future of metropolitan racing. One should never lose sight of the old adage “the game is bigger than the player” and if any player regardless of how important he or she is stops listening, the whole racing industry is the likely loser.
I’d like to thank my committee for their loyalty and absolute commitment to the club. I would also like to thank the members for their assistance and for their input regarding policy decisions throughout the past 12 months. For me as Chairman it is very important to receive both positive and negative feedback. I give thanks to all of our sponsors who are greatly valued, no matter how big or small their contribution is. My thanks go to the media for their brilliant coverage of racing at Clifford Park. Finally, my thanks go to the general public who contribute to make racing the great event that it is. We have a progressive and profitable racing club of which we can all be proud. And you have my assurance that this will continue.
Neville Stewart
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN