ROB’S SHOUT - IT’S A ‘NO-BRAINER’. THE BRC INITIATIVE SHOULD BE EMBRACED

By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, January 26, 2012

Robert Heathcote is the leading racehorse trainer in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout' - the personal blog of the multi-premiership winning trainer will appear every Thursday on HRO.

Hello again from a very wet and sodden Brisbane.

Gee, was it only twelve months ago we got hammered and the big wet has returned again. Today’s big Australia Day meeting was an early casualty and the transferred meeting on Saturday has to be in jeopardy also.

I recall only too vividly the tragic events this time last year so fingers crossed the big wet can leave us as quickly as it came. The racing industry will be affected, no doubt about that, but hopefully the disruptions will be minimal.

Normally if you have a 'duck or two' in your stables you rub your hands in delighted anticipation but with this much rain, more than likely the meetings will get cancelled!

Before I go on I should say I have had had some communication with the Chairman of the Gold Coast Turf Club re my criticisms of their Magic Millions Day in last week's blog.

Brett Cook has acknowledged my concerns and comments and is endeavouring to rectify or at least attempt to improve things for their future big days.

Great stuff Brett and yes, it's what it' all about, being proactive and all working together for the better of our industry.

I sincerely congratulate you and your club with your financial windfall and I hope it helps make the Gold Coast Turf Club a fantastic venue in the future.

Next year I will call you and see if I need to bring my sandwiches with me!

This week we also saw a media conference announcing a new winter carnival
initiative/scheme!

The initiative from Queensland Events in conjunction with the Brisbane Racing club is to invite the winners of specific races in Australasia to our winter carnival to compete in the Stradbroke and the Oaks.

I personally think this is a fantastic idea.

Yes, it can be argued that this cost could be best used elsewhere in a cash strapped industry, but the facts are simple in this case as this money does not come from the prize money pool of the industry … and it is being put to good use as it is the top horses that attract the people to the races and increase the profile of our industry.

If the incentive of paid expenses is just enough to tip the balance to entice the connections to come to Brisbane then the incentive has served its purpose.

As a marketing tool it's also a winner as we saw last year with the super mare Black Caviar gracing us with her presence.

Record crowds and real buzz of excitement not seen here since the likes of maybe Might And Power !

Sure, there will not be another Black Caviar for a long time but any previous winner of a Group 1 event is worthy of being a draw-card for our carnival.

There are unfortunately too many bigots within our industry. It is easy to criticize, but I always do find it laughable when some Group 1 races are demeaned as being inferior races and some of the winners of Group 1 winners are labeled as being unworthy of that status.

Try winning one and see how hard it is!

I know because I have been trying for some time and if not for some bad luck … and maybe the likes of Black Caviar, Hay List and Sepoy then maybe I would have … but to finish my point, if any Group 1 winners are coming here to race during the carnival, that's got to be good for all race lovers!

I should also make another brief mention that the funds available for this
initiative are from Queensland Events Corporation, which is a separate entity
from Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Racing Club, and the money does not
come out of prize money.

If we do not accept or use the funds on offer, then it goes elsewhere.

A no brainer really to embrace the idea!

As a trainer, it's always the number one priority to try and win any race we go in but it does give a real special feel about it when the race is of the highest quality! They are bloody harder to win, sure, but it's an exciting feeling knowing you are competing against the best opposition at the time.

Ah well, still raining and not really sure if we will race on Saturday or not.

Good weather for ducks though!

Cheers.

Robert

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