Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson determined to bury industry’s demons

NEW RQ chairman Steve Wilson says he is not deterred by the ghosts of the past and insists he sees a host of opportunities that can renew confidence in this state’s racing industry.

Victorian visitor Under The Louvre narrowly clinches Queensland’s premier race, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, from a gallant Black Heart Bart on June 11. Picture: Jono Searle

NEW Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson says he is not deterred by the ghosts of the past and insists he sees a host of opportunities that can renew confidence in this state’s racing industry.

With Sunday’s announcement of the final four positions on the new RQ board and the unveiling of a new chief executive imminent, the fresh team will soon unveil its agenda for racing’s future.

“The new board members have a huge range of skills, business experience and history of success, but also some new ways of looking at things and that is vitally important,” Wilson said.

The former South Bank Corporation chairman is well aware of the unceremonious exits his predecessors Bob Bentley and Kevin Dixon had but feels being new to racing without any alignment with different factions will play in his favour.

“If I had a dollar for every time someone said ‘poisoned chalice’ I would be a bit richer. I completely disagree with that,” Wilson said. “If Racing Queensland was a stock, I would be buying a lot of it.

If I had a dollar for every time someone said ‘poisoned chalice’ I would be a bit richer. I completely disagree with that. If Racing Queensland was a stock, I would be buying a lot of it.

- Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson

“It’s not perfect and there’s a lot that can be improved, but our wagering numbers are modestly up and the degree of cutting that was predicted as necessary in Tracking to Sustainability is not as significant as was spelt out.”

From his preliminary talks with racing participants, Wilson has plenty of advice on what the industry needs to be successful. Most common is the pro and counter arguments for Queensland’s high level of non-TAB racing.

“We can’t kid ourselves that the TAB clubs are the ones that bring in the most revenue for us,” he said. “But equally the importance to a local community of at least an event or two is critical and I certainly wouldn’t want us to turn our back on that.

“The Government has shown they are prepared to back country racing and we will keep arguing for that.

“The case there is real. It’s about the community, it’s about employment opportunities, it’s about the fabric of society, it’s about the tourism opportunities.”

Mapping out an infrastructure plan is an early priority for the new board.

Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson and Brisbane Racing Club chairman Neville Bell (left) at the Brisbane Winter Carnival launch. Picture: Richard Waugh

“Any money that was legally promised will be honoured; hints, buts and maybes won’t count,” he said.

“We have to look at how much money we have, how long it will last and then how we can leverage that in the best way.”

Jockey Dwayne Dunn with the winner’s trophy after Under The Louvre won the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Jono Searle

Wilson believes racing can sell itself better to newer consumers of gambling and ­wagering, which he points out continues to grow.

“Everyone says look at the corporate bookmakers eating up parimutuel. I look at it different,” he said.

“Look at the youngsters now, they all have a mobile app and they are all betting.

“We just have to offer them a better way to a much more interesting, sophisticated product (racing) than who’s going to kick the next football through a goalpost, which at the end of the day, is pretty dumb.

We just have to offer them a better way to a much more interesting, sophisticated product (racing) than who’s going to kick the next football through a goalpost, which at the end of the day, is pretty dumb.

“I would argue with a passion that it is so much better for our society for people to bet on horses and dogs than on (sports).”

Wilson feels there is “low hanging fruit” that racing has failed to capitalise on, including business and tourism. He finds it strange that in 30 years in the Brisbane business world he never once encountered an invitation from racing to play a role in the industry — be it as a sponsor or corporate client. He intends to change that methodology and engage with the business world.

“One of the things that struck me is that racing as a brand has been focusing on the traditional way of marketing itself. Almost an entitlement argument, which is ‘we are the biggest sporting industry’ which is true, but in a way, expecting that to lead to success,” he said.

“It’s a compelling case the size and depth of the industry, but we have to be better at communicating that to corporate sponsors, the business community, to governments, to international sponsors and international horsemen.”

A big crowd attends the reopening of Queensland’s most famous racetrack, Eagle Farm. Picture: Jono Searle

Originally published as Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson determined to bury industry’s demons