MY CALL - NOW IT IS TIME TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS

By David Fowler | Tuesday, March 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.

The celebrations are over and now it’s down to business.

I firmly believe the racing community and its extended family played a worthy hand in the destruction of the Bligh Labor government as I alluded to in last week's blog.

Key racing seats swept Labor aside.

The Sandgate seat is an excellent case in point. A 15.6% swing to the LNP after the seat had been held by Labor for 51 years!

Amazing figures.

And one of Kerry Millard's key platforms was to oppose the redevelopment of Deagon.

It's fair to say … to pinch a famous old quote … that "a drover's dog could have won the election", but the racing folk certainly deserve an honorable mention in their role.

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The weeks and months ahead are going to be a fascinating time.

While the racing industry is not the highest priority for the incoming LNP government, they were backed in by racing people on the promise of reform and growth and they must deliver.

I'm surprised RQ chairman Bob Bentley wants to hang around with a new broom precariously close to his door.

He has conceded "when it's over, it's over", but I would have thought a man of his stature would not want to languish in a lame duck role which is effectively what it is. Anyway, that's his choice.

The new board and new faces will keep racing's political wonks active on the chat sites for a few weeks to come.

But while this structural change takes place, the most important document that the LNP can provide for the racing community is a decisive blueprint for the future.

Is their confidence in the years ahead?

Can the new government provide a vision that will have younger people wanting to retain their involvement or young people wanting to be employed in the racing game.

The LNP have to study the figures and lay their cards on the table.

Just what current state of health is the Queensland racing industry in?

They've promised transparency and accountability to the public and racing folk should expect nothing less.

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Tim Nicholls has long been touted as the incoming Racing Minister.

I'm not so sure.

With the Treasure and Trade portfolios already assigned to him, would the responsibility of Racing as well take a back seat?

I won't be surprised if racing enthusiast Ray Stevens ends up with the gig.

He knows racing and he LIKES racing. Seems a good pick to me.

While the political landscape will be dominating racing discussions for sometime, it's time to get back to what counts most … the horses and backing winners.

And that's what will be doing from next week, not forgetting our own carnival is only a month away.

Until then.

David Fowler