By Pat McLeod
With some vital clear air on Saturday night at Ipswich, Jason Schmidt can become the poster-boy for the burgeoning QGOLD concept.
Schmidt, who trains in partnership with his brother Craig, has two runners in the $15,400 QGOLD Final at Ipswich, Flaming Curacao and Flaming Cyrus, but it is his wider back story that paints him as a prime example of what this ‘Queensland-bred’ race series is all about.
Schmidt is not only a trainer, but since his return to the sport about a decade ago he has bred ‘about 15 litters’.
Buoyed by the positive growth of the industry, he has also invested heavily in greyhound racing, moving into his own 40-acre facility at Churchable, west of Ipswich, just 10 days ago.
From there he will breed, rear and train.
He says the QGOLD strategy is more than a reward for ‘local’ breeders, but a key cornerstone in growing confidence in the sport.
“The QGOLD concept is a great idea,” he said.
“Incentives for breeding are very important because they help out in the short and long term. The continual payments for first starters and then first wins are a big bonus and a big help.
“There is a reward for the effort that you put into these pups.
“Now there are these races that Racing Queensland is putting on and they are a big incentive.
“I targeted this race in particular from about five weeks ago. I was actually holding my dogs back for this race because of the prize money incentive.
“The industry has changed a lot since the ‘1990s, when I was first involved. Back then we were racing for $500 a win. So, certainly now the prize money is so much better. At Albion Park on a Thursday night you can win $6000 for winning a run-of-the-mill race.
“Now there is a much wider scope to make a good living out of this industry. Of course you have to have good dogs and you have to know what you are doing as a trainer.
“And, you don't need a big set-up. I know plenty of people who are training from backyards and making good money.”