Rockhampton race The Archer faces axing after Racing Qld decision

Rocky Amateurs has warned a directive from Racing Queensland not to relicense “tenant” race clubs from 2026 will bring about the demise of Rockhampton’s signature race The Archer.

Rocky Amateurs chairman Bill Reid and committee person Jonathon Offord. PICTURE: Tony McMahon.

Rocky Amateurs chairman Bill Reid said he was “gutted and shocked” that a directive from Racing Queensland not to relicense “tenant” race clubs from 2026 will bring about the demise of Rockhampton’s signature race The Archer.

The Weight-For-Age The Archer (1300m), instigated in 2022 with a $440,000 prize money attachment rising to $775K last year was set to become Rockhampton racing’s first $1M race next April.

As regional Queensland’s richest race, the 2025 version of The Archer was to carry a winner’s exclusivity clause of automatic entry into the field for the GROUP 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane next winter.

With such an enticement, it was to expected draw some of Australia’s top sprinters to Callaghan Park racecourse and eclipse the magnificent successes of its previous two editions.

However, according to Bill Reid that will not be happening as a result of RQ’s directive.

“To say our club is very upset is an understatement. Truly we are shocked,” he said.

“The massive commitment and untold hours and hours of work from voluntary club members and committee to get The Archer up and running in the first place and for this to happen makes no sense to us. The Archer has been a magnificent success story ad next year would have been even bigger. Why aren’t RQ not supporting a success story and pulling the rug from under us?

“There are a lot of horror stories in racing but this The Archer was a great news story for racing not only in Rockhampton but nationally.”

The revamped Rocky Amateurs, formerly the Central Queensland Amateur Race Club, has been racing at Callaghan Park racecourse on a rental arrangement from the Rockhampton Jockey Club since 1921.

Rocky Amateurs Alan Acton and Bill Reid with Gai Waterhouse, the special guest of the upcoming April Carnival.

Currently a tenant of Callaghan Park racecourse owners the RJC, the Rocky Amateurs pays a sizeable but undisclosed sum to rent the racecourse for its annual one day racing colossus.

As a “slot race” the majority of its prize money is funded through slot holders who pay significant amounts based on a three year turn to own a piece of the race.

In turn, owners of the higher echelon of sprinters anxious to have representation in The Archer negotiate and come to a financial arrangement with individual slot holders to share prize money won.

Since its inception, it has been a win-win arrangement for Central Queensland racing stakeholders.

All three The Archer winners to date, Emerald kingdom, Alpine Edge and Namazu, carried either CQ ownership or represented slot holders from that region.

Better still, from a financial reward for local racing stakeholders, Rockhampton jockey Ash Butler won on both Emerald kingdom and Callaghan Park trainer Ricky Vale’s Namazu.

As well The Archer, has lured multiple Melbourne Cup and GR 1 jockeys, trainers to ply their craft at Callaghan Park while attracting the biggest attendances at the racecourse each year.

Bill Reid said it was not feasible for the Rocky Amateurs to go ahead and run The Archer in 2025.

“With RQ directing they will not relicense us after that year there is no future for the club or the slotholders. It’s that simple,” he mused.

Rocky Amateurs committeeman Tony Fenlon agreed, saying it would be a “totally unfair arrangement for slot holders, club sponsors and stakeholders to proceed with no assurance after next year (2025).”

“I attended a meeting in Rocky last Friday week along with other members of our committee and RQ CEO Jason Scott and Melinda Martin (Chief Operating Officer). I can categorically say they told us there is a change in policy regarding tenant race clubs that don’t have facilities,” a dejected Fenlon said.

“They said such clubs like the Rocky Amateurs will not have licenses reissued in 2026. In other words, our club will not relicensed beyond 2025. Therefore, there will not be another running of The Archer under that edict hanging over the club.

“What concerns me is what will become of the prize money offered for the other races that day (abt $250K). Will it stay local? It just doesn’t make any sense.”