OBE UNPLUGGED - EASY TO BAG SOMETHING WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION

By Mark Oberhardt | Monday, February 4, 2013

Mark Oberhardt has been a racing and sports reporter for 40 years. He has written racing for the Courier Mail, Brisbane Telegraph, Sydney Sunday Telegraph, Sportsman, Australian Associated Press, etc. He has also written many sports columns including the Courier Mail’s The Ear. Mark has also been a regular on RadioTAB for 20 years. Mark’s personal blog, Obe Unplugged, will appear every Monday on HRO.

RACING is an unusual sport because to be an expert you don't have to be a former competitor. In other words some of the biggest know-alls have never ridden in a race or even saddled a horse. Nor have they ever been on a race club committee or board.

I have to admit the last time I rode a horse I fell off and injured my arm, so I have retired from any hands on approach to horses. But it doesn't stop me being critical of the top riders and trainers.

I am not the only one as there are more experts per square metre in racing than any other sport. It is part of the magic of racing that everyone can have an opinion.

Some weeks you look like a genius and others you are a complete fool.

It also means the sport is put under a microscope like no other. In years gone by it was just journalists who were expressing opinions about various subjects. But these days there are so many websites and television shows that it is no hard task to get an opinion.

I have no objection to that but the thing that amazes me is the number of negative attitudes.

It is easy to bag something, but the trick should be to suggest something positive and different.

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If ever there was an example it is the proposed new race dates for next racing season in Queensland.

Unless you have been on holidays in darkest Africa you would realise that they haven't gone down well in certain quarters.

Naturally, it is the clubs and cities which will lose meetings who are up in arms. It is another example of the problem which has cursed racing in Queensland for decades.

Basically Queensland has more race clubs than any other state spread out over a huge area. But we do not have the money of most of the other states and we really have stretched our budget too far.

Also anyone who suggests a race club be shut down is immediately attacked.

There’s no doubt Queensland has too many clubs and racetracks for its size but no one has ever worked out how to successfully lop some.

Therefore it is a real juggling act to please punters in Mt Isa and Cairns as well as in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
It is no use bagging the current suggestions put forward unless you can come up with an alternative.

Unfortunately, the alternatives usually mean someone else will miss out and you will be okay.

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The same goes for negotiations with the TAB and you can't blame the "mincer" for wanting the best deal for its shareholders.

As the lifeblood of racing at all levels in Queensland remains the TAB we have to come up with a formula which helps both the industry and it.

The bottom line is the industry is not providing the maximum in TAB returns at the moment.

Some new things have to be tried and that means a trial with different race dates. If someone can come up with a better idea I would love to hear it.

Instead of saying things are political or a get square they might be better off showing how things can be improved.

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Meanwhile, on a positive note the Queensland tracks continue to perform well in the wet.

Caloundra was great on the Australia Day weekend, while Eagle Farm, Ipswich and Doomben all raced very well after the deluge.

It showed the wisdom of spending money on race surfaces and facilities.

Now if we can just rid of the mystery stink at Doomben and upgrade some of the Eagle Farm stands we might be on the right track.

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