QUEENSLAND racing has reached the point of no return. If it does not stand its ground in it’s war with the State Government the industry will go to seed.

Will it die? No. Racing is a resilient beast. It will stagger on regardless.

But already the three racing codes in Queensland are running on fumes while their southern counterparts thrive. Without further action they will sink further into the deep dark abyss.

The Queensland galloping industry threatened to strike unless the government reconsidered its controversial move to introduce a 15 per cent point of consumption betting tax (NSW is 10 per cent and Victoria 8 per cent) and, unlike the southern states who redirect a significant per centage into prizemoney, use much of it for other projects.

The threat has been withdrawn amid the expectation a better deal is on the way but the racing fraternity must be wary about vague, shallow promises.

Both sides of government have treated racing shabbily in Queensland, especially Labor who have always misread nature of its participants.

Labor has always been reluctant help racing because it sees it as a sport of the rich and famous – the sport of kings – but for every BMW-driving owner who runs a law firm there are thousands on battlers lower down the chain just doing their best to earn a crust.

It is not just the galloping codes which has been treated poorly.

Albion Park harness racing caller Chris Barsby has been broadcasting out of a makeshift elevated shipping container for a decade as the industry waits news of the redevelopment of a facility which is as tired as a desert explorer.

Five years ago the harness industry lost its Gold Coast track with the promise of a new one but as yet there is no plan and the funds generated from the sale of the old track have vaporised.

The much-maligned greyhounds have been talking about a new track at Rocklea but the plan seems to go on and off the table every few months.