As plans come through on the new outstanding future Ipswich complex here is an old track profile. Ipswich will race for the last time on April 5th 2025 after 42 years at the Showgrounds her is a few pics of the old complex. The is part of the new Q which is only about 7k’s from the Showgrounds.
IPSWICH OPENING NIGHT OF RACING : Saturday May 1, 1982.
(contributed by Paul Dolan)
PATRON: The Hon. Dr. Llew Edwards MLA
PRESIDENT: Ted Meehan
VICE PRESIDENT: Bob Wilton
COMMITTEE: John Doyle, Bill Hastie, Kev Johnson, Bill Jones, Ken Roberts, Chris Williams
STEWARDS: Gil Mooney, Terry O’Dempsey, M.Maher
LURE DRIVER: Bevan Williamson
JUDGE: Les Wilson
VET SURGEON: Dr. John Hare
GRADER OF RACE FIELDS: Ben Ward, Greyhound Control Board
SECRETARY: Greta Kinnane
COURSE ANNOUNCER: Terry Spargo, radio 4BC. At the time, Terry was also the racecaller at the Gold Coast Turf Club. He would call the horse races there on Saturday afternoon then drive to Ipswich to call the greyhound card. After about twelve months the calling job was handed to Damian Courtney and following callers included Paul Dolan, Michael Wrona, Danny Ryan and John Brasch.
OPENING RACE: The first of ten races was a 5th grade over 512 metres. It was won by Yessam Black Top from box five, owned and trained by Lyndal and Don Massey of Ipswich. The winning time was 31.66. Starting price was 5 to 1 but Don Massey says the bookmakers bet as much as 16 to 1. In a quirky coincidence, Don and Lyn won the final race run at Border Park on December 3, 2016 with Magical Yessam.
OTHER WINNERS:
Race 2: Carlton FFA, 732m: The Gallows 6-4 fav. (box 1), Keith Dickinson, 45.66.
Race 3: 4th grade, 512m: Lightning Clover 5-1 (box 6) Noel Wright, 31.23.
Race 4: FFA, 288m: Glinell Fred 9-2 (box 6) Bon Glindemann, 17.74.
Race 5: 3rd grade, 512m.: Tashina’s Image 12-1 (box 3), Ron Ball, 31.03
Race 6: 5th grade, 512m: Jayenel 2-1 fav. (box 4) Ron L’Barrow, 31.82.
Race 7: XXXX Trophy FFA, 512m: Speculate Lad 3-1 (box 2), D.H.Grant, 31.50.
Race 8: 2nd/3rd grades, 288m: Sendum Sprawlin 4-1 (box 
, John Martin, 17.66
, John Martin, 17.66Race 9: 4th grade, 512m.: Star Factor 5-1 (box , R.Mitchell, 31.77
, R.Mitchell, 31.77Race 10: 2nd/3rd grades, 512m.: Glinell Spotty 5-4 fav. (box 4), Bob Glindemann, 31.69.
Prizemoney for the three Free For All races was $1,000 of which the winner received $650. For the other seven races, prizemoney was $500, the winner receiving $325.
The only winner on the opening night who won a race at the second meeting was Speculate Lad.
The crowd on opening night was estimated at 3,000 people.
Approximately 15 bookmakers fielded on the local events and the Albion Park trots and some southern trots and greyhound meetings. The bookmakers were located in a circle or ring inside the grandstand complex, near where the secretary’s office is located nowadays.
3,000 people couldn’t fit into the grandstand, with hundreds grabbing whatever vantage point they could on the grass and tiled areas outside to watch the meeting unfold.
There were no 431 metres or 630 metres starting points initially. Those were installed later. Races over 732 metres started from the 288m boxes.
Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club officials Merv Page (left) and Rob Essex. Picture: Rob Williams
