MY CALL - NIGHT RACING IN BRISBANE ANYONE?
By David Fowler | Tuesday, November 27, 2012
David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.
Dare I put my head into the lion's den … night racing in Brisbane anyone?
My colleague Mark Oberhardt has been sensibly talking up TAB Sunday racing in country areas, but what merit does a night racing proposal have?
Let's examine some background details.
The water has been tested on night racing in Queensland at the provincial venues of Toowoomba and Sunshine Coast with limited success … very limited!
Toowoomba's position was one driven by turnover … to find a slot which could enhance its own identity.
Initially it was a 4 to 7 twilight spot, but it has now drifted into night territory, going head on with other codes … and it is an unattractive venue in cooler months for attracting race-goers.
Sunshine Coast's position was to be part of an eastern seaboard Friday tryst with Canterbury and Moonee Valley.
This was a hastily and ill-conceived idea by the previous failed Racing Queensland considering the many times Sunshine Coast was left to do it alone.
So it's a reasonable call that the concept of night racing hasn't been given a fair chance in south-east Queensland.
On the flipside, night racing in Melbourne at Moonee Valley has become a niche market and it is highly successful.
Successful for a couple of reasons.
It's in the city and it's a consistent product, most Fridays from Spring through to Autumn.
Would Friday night racing at Doomben, coinciding with Canterbury and Moonee Valley, be successful?
I'm not suggesting extra meetings, but I've often argued the case why Ipswich MUST race every Friday, why Sunshine Coast MUST race every Sunday etc etc.
Success in any business is looking outside the square.
Friday night racing at Doomben might be a long-shot but I reckon it's worth some investigation.
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Even some twilight meetings would be a start.
It's as if the edict of no daylight saving in the state means no twilight racing.
At the height of Brisbane's summer, there is light until just after 7pm.
What's wrong with a Friday city twilighter at Eagle Farm or Doomben from 3 to 7?
These are highly successful in other states leading up to Christmas.
We've missed the boat this year but it should be a must in 2013.
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To back winners you have to be a hard marker.
And it's the same in finding a good horse. I'd prefer to sit and wait before making a statement.
But I will make this statement.
The White Hope is potentially the best I've seen for a long time.
Four wins in a row would be a lazy way to back up my judgement.
But running time in those four consecutive wins is the clincher.
Twice breaking 1:10 for the 1200m, then breaking 1:19 for the Doomben 1350m, then bettering 1:22 at the Eagle Farm 1400m.
These are generally agreed benchmark figures that he has got under and done it with ease.
His "Casper the Ghost" like appearance and front-running style has made him extremely popular with the Brisbane punters.
But he's not just a pin-up. He is a serious racehorse.
He goes out at a tempo quick enough to not let them get near him but not quick enough to tire at the finish.
He is the real deal.
Until next week.
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