THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - YOU CAN CHANGE THE VIEW BY LOOKING OUTSIDE THE SQUARE

By Graham Potter | Sunday, March 17, 2013

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily

Let’s think outside the square for a moment.

That already would be a good starting point for the racing industry. In fact, such is its current predicament, thinking outside the square should become part of racing’s mission statement as it needs to be proactive in creating the change that is necessary in a changing world, not only for it to succeed … but to survive.

So here is a thought out of left field.

The Saturday evening racing time-slot in Queensland, which has always been the domain of Toowoomba Turf Club, has been the cause of much debate in recent months.

The proposed change in the Toowoomba track’s racing surface, the financial implications of that venture, the possible inconvenience to some clubs, in particular the Sunshine Coast, in a proposed revised fixture list and, oh so close to the real point, even the question of whether a change in surface at Toowoomba could effectively improve the lot of the once vibrant racing centre at the top of the range … these are all arguments that have been in play, long and loud!

But none of that thinking was outside the square!

Thinking outside the square would be looking at the viability of the Saturday evening timeslot in the first place in a critical manner.

Each week the weight of race-meetings on Friday and Saturday afternoons adequately service the appetite of all but the most die-hard punters. The provincial meetings on Fridays are the entrée, the three Metropolitan meetings on Saturday are the choice of main course and, at best, Saturday evening is part of the desert menu.

By then, most people have had their fill of racing. Very few will partake.

So if the Saturday evening timeslot is problematic in the first place, and here is that thought out of left field, why not look for a better time to schedule the meeting.

What about Monday when you could have a weekly stand-alone meeting which will give racing in Queensland an added presence on a day when it is normally in recess?

Easier said than done? Not really!

Racing might have almost given all of its power away but it still has the actual product as a bargaining chip.

Allowing the likes of a television channel or the TAB to dictate terms to racing in terms of what happens and when it can happen is only an acceptable play when it is to racing’s benefit and therefore, as in this example, if it is found to be to racing’s benefit to drop the Saturday evening meeting in favour of a Monday fixture, that is the path racing has to secure, if necessary, by stern negotiation with its supposed ‘partners’.

I am well aware that contracts can complicate matters … but if a contract is a noose around your neck, it would surely be folly to do nothing except wait for the trapdoor to be sprung.

That’s the second part of the thinking outside the square process. When you find a plan that improves on what you have, you are obligated to find a way to implement it.

So there you have it. That’s one of my attempts at thinking outside of the square.

Maybe I need a little practise, but I do know the more I do it the better results will be.

Here’s hoping that those who can really make a difference give it a try!

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