MY CALL: 10000 DEBATE CONTINUES WHILE ANOTHER POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ISSUE IS WAITING IN THE WINGS
By David Fowler | Tuesday, November 15, 2016
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.
Racing Queensland must reach a compromise on the Doomben 10,000 issue.
Both sides of the argument have strong points that makes taking a side all the more difficult and dangerous.
The Brisbane Racing Club has commercial interests to protect while losing the Doomben 10,000 in name and location is a bridge too far for many enthusiasts.
A compromise can be reached by slotting the Doomben 10,000 into the May 13 date which marks the start of the BRC’s segment of the Carnival.
To keep the program streamlined, the race must be run at 1200m, a BTC Cup replica.
It will be a tad precious for the Doomben 10,000 supporters to baulk at a distance shortening as history clearly shows the race has had several cosmetic changes in the past.
In fact, it started as the T.M.Ahern Memorial Handicap run down the straight six at Doomben in 1946, carrying a ten thousand pound purse.
It richly deserves its existence but with some clauses attached.
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I’m surprised the Townsville Turf Club committee resigned en masse after the appointment of an administrator.
RQ’s strike comes as no surprise. Even the Club’s auditor expressed concern about its trading position without continued financial support from the controlling body.
Townsville can’t be allowed to fall over as the hub of North Queensland racing but obviously something is not going right to be in such a precarious position.
As a club president, I am fully aware that running race meetings is not a profit making exercise. Far from it.
But I couldn’t see my committee fleeing the scene if a fresh set of eyes arrived to assist.
It’s not a good look.
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Rumour has dogged Jamie Dart for sometime.
That is fact. What is not fact is to canvass the rumours publicly. He is owed his privacy to a point.
Dart has been stood down from his senior QRIC position to allow an investigation regarding a matter that happened before the Commission’s existence.
His appointment was controversial not only because of rumour but that he was the chief steward of the greyhound industry at the time of the live baiting exposure.
Key personnel were shown the door in the aftermath of this but Dart not only stayed but was promoted.
It beggared belief to all except the top brass at QRIC apparently who couldn’t see a bushfire anywhere.
This column can report this current episode is high on priority lists of news agencies that operate outside the racing world.
It has the potential to be explosive.
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It was my pleasure to attend the Christmas lunch of the Stilettos and Saddles Club at Eagle Farm on Monday.
It’s birth emanated from a handful of jockeys’ and trainers’ wives of previous decades meeting for a cup of coffee.
Now it’s a thriving organisation that meets socially four or five times a year.
The love and friendship at these gatherings is awesome.
Much kudos goes to Lorraine Erhart and Denise Reardon for their organisational efforts.
In a true spirit of comradery, the plethora of raffles and lucky door prizes are brought by the guests.
So many lost to racing’s mainstream are made feel like Kings and Queens.
Congratulations to all and my hosts Arthur and Helen Lister.
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