Townsville Turf Club

Cup age limit may be lifted in future

24-Jul-2010: THE biggest race day in the city could again be an all-ages event once Townsville Turf Club's financial troubles are behind them.

The Townsville Cup was restricted to patrons 18 and over in 2008 after the club was fined more than $10,000 for under-age drinking breaches the previous year.

The move was echoed by the Burdekin Grower Race Day earlier this year with unruly teenagers and warnings from Liquor Licensing blamed for the ban on young racegoers.

Townsville Turf Club chief executive officer Michael Charge said the club would be interested in easing the rule in future years, in consultation with Liquor Licensing.

He said it was disappointing a small minority had prevented families from enjoying the thrill of the city's largest meet.

"I think, moving forward, it would be nice to find some sort of compromise and an easing to the rule in the future, but it's up to us and Liquor Licensing," he said. "Ideally in a perfect world it's not what you want. It's a shame this small minority wrecked it for genuine families who want to enjoy the thrill of a big race day."

However, it could be deemed too high-risk for the club to have the regulations changed.

During the 2007 Townsville Cup more than 60 security guards and eight additional police officers were on duty at Cluden Park in a bid to prevent under-age drinking, with an armband system of identification introduced for people who looked under 30.

However, breaches to the regulation still occurred, causing the club to impose the ban.

The popular Townsville Amateurs had already restricted their event to adults-only in 2007.

Mr Charge said introducing the ban had meant less of a strain on resources for their major race meets and a bumper crowd was expected today.

"We don't have to be as heavy-handed with security," he said.

"Obviously during the event (under-age drinking is) difficult to police. When we were stung by Liquor Licensing in 2007 they found four minors consuming alcohol in a crowd of 13,000 and they were given their alcohol by friends, so it is a difficult one for us."

He said the club placed a heavy focus on family events such as Parry Nissan Race Day and Ladies Day to cater for younger race fans.

"Townsville Cup is documented as a bit of a party crowd so it's not the greatest day for kids," he said.

"We've pushed those other days pretty heavily, but naturally it's had a bit of an impact, to a less of a degree now because people are used to it."

The club's financial state has been under scrutiny from Racing Queensland Limited, an amalgamation of the three racing codes, which includes the industry body formerly known as Queensland Racing.

In April financial investigators Deloitte were called in by Queensland Racing to explore a rescue package for the club, with the results expected to be raised at a monthly meeting next week


Author: Rachel Toune (Townsville Bulletin)