Queensland greyhound racing again immersed in QGOLD riches

By Pat McLeod

Ahead of a week of Queensland greyhound racing that is bathed in QGOLD, highly successful breeder and trainer Mary Burman just wishes she was 30 years younger.

Across Tuesday’s Townsville meeting, Albion Park on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and next Monday’s Bundaberg program the recently introduced Queensland-bred (QGOLD) concept is front and centre.

QGOLD heats, at all three tracks, will flow into Finals that offer a prize money bonanza for locally bred chasers.

Mary, who with husband Ray, have been stellar performers for decades in metropolitan racing in South East Queensland on the back of an astute breeding program.

“I just wish I was 30 years younger,” Mary said.

“The QGOLD is a great concept. And, why shouldn't we have something exclusive to our industry up here.

“There are plenty of big-dollar races across the upcoming winter carnival that are open to all-comers, so it is great to see something that is exclusive to Queenslanders.

“And, the prize money, it is excellent.

“It is a reward for those who have already bred here and an incentive to keep breeding or for others to start breeding.”

Mary is especially rapt in the breadth that QGOLD covers. At Albion Park on May 25, there will be nine QGOLD Finals, covering the traditional open 520 metres, 600 metres and 710 metres. 

However, there will also be separate 520 metres and 600 metres races for emerging talent as well as rookies (maiden and novice) and veteran Finals over 520 metres plus the Bolt (395 metres) and the Blitz (331 metres).

Prizemoney to the winners ranges from $12,545 up to $25,090.

Racing Queensland’s Senior Racing Manager for Greyhounds, Brenton Scott, said RQ was delighted to have been able to expand QGOLD feature racing into the Winter Carnival.

“The summer equivalent last December was a roaring success and the winter event, along with some regional features, ensures that over $800,000 is distributed to Queensland bred greyhounds in the QGOLD features,” Scott said.

“Add to this the sustainability payments (first start, first win, second win) and a total of $3.6 million is distributed in Queensland-bred greyhound racing incentives.”

The Burmans took out the Emerging Stayers Final (600 metres) at the inaugural QGOLD feature night in December last year with Blue Hornet.

The star of their prolific Sennachie and Champagne Sally litter will this time around contest the QGOLD Winter Chase Open 600 metre heat on Thursday night.

Litter sister Jewel Bee will race in a separate heat of that event, while yet another from that litter, Perfect Tyrant, is in one of three QGOLD 520 metre heats for emerging sprinters.

So far, the nine members of that litter have reaped $334,625, with Blue Hornet at the top of that money tree with $94,105.

“They are going great guns,” said Mary. “I have been fortunate to have had plenty of good litters in the past.

“Champagne Sally’s litter was exceptional. Then her first litter was very good, but their careers were curtailed by injury.

“At the moment we have six Champagne Sally - Tommy Shelby pups that are about seven months old.”

With incentives such as QGOLD, Mary said she was planning to continue to breed.

“Ray’s health is not good, so the policy is ‘just one day at a time’,” she said.

“When it comes to the point when Ray is immobilised, which will happen at some stage, but we don't know how long, but when we have to get out, well, we will just have a fire sale.”