Strikes nothing new in Queensland racing
Strike action in the Queensland racing industry is nothing new and dates back nearly 50 years.
But the mooted two day strikes over the distribution of the Point Of Consumption tax are the first time the entire industry will be united.
The first strike was in August 1970 when jockeys boycotted a Doomben meeting because rider Mel Schumacher had been denied a parking spot at the meeting the week before.
The 1984 Doomben 10,000 meeting was postponed when barrier and ground staff and jockeys went on strike.
In January 1994, jockeys went on strike for better pay and three races were abandoned at Ipswich in 2009 over whip rules.
The secretary of the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers’ Association, Cameron Partington, said the difference was the entire the industry was united.
“Everyone seems to have had enough and decided it is time to make our point,” he said.