THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH ...

By Graham Potter | Sunday, May 19, 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

Sometimes you have to tread lightly on the subject of track surfaces. It is a delicate matter in racing being, as it is, subject to the whims of the weather gods and the general on-going battle against wear and tear created by too many race-meetings.

But sometimes the absolute truth jumps up and hits you in the face like a clod of flying earth and it is then that there can be no softening of the message,

That was the case at Eagle Farm last Saturday where the track rating plummeted on the day, going from a Good 3 to a Heavy 9 in a matter of hours.

The adverse effect the conditions had on the first day of the Brisbane Carnival was as unfortunate as it was predictable.

This was day where originally Racing Queensland officials hoped to fill the grounds with 50 000 people to see Black Caviar run. If the great mare had been accepted for the BTC Cup, she would have been a certainly once again … a certainly to be scratched. She would not have gone out to race on that track surface!

So, if you like, the Club dodged a bullet in that regard and there is also another situation in which they can take some minor comfort.

At least they are not at loggerheads with their clientele on the state of the going.

For once the views of punters and racing officials were in alignment. Everyone knew beforehand that the extreme rate of deterioration of the track was a possibility given that it has unanimously been declared to be well past its use-by date (even if the actual rate ultimately surprised some people)

All acknowledged a point that has been in play for a number of years … namely that the track has to be dug up and replaced and, thankfully, there is no blame attached to this … no finger pointing. It is a simply a fact of life.

But while everybody agrees on the problem and the solution the time frame in managing the necessary change is a bone of contention.

As always, the sticking point is money!

The talk is of $10 million to build a new track. The talk is of it possibly being done in two years’ time as part of the BRC’s Masterplan, but there is nothing tangible in putting amounts out there that are not readily available and a plan out there that is dependent on other things to happen before it can be implemented.

The bottom line is the problem in dealing with the track has been put off for too long.

Of course it is a complex situation.

Firstly, money has to be found but Racing Queensland has found money before when, amongst other examples, reinstating the Brisbane Racing Club’s full subsidy, when lifting the first prize payout for the Stradbroke, when signing off on a change of track at Toowoomba. Maybe not $10 million’s worth, but perhaps a re-evaluation of money directed at less important projects would be a good starting point.

Secondly, the logistics of keeping racing going while the track is re-laid has to be carefully worked out. That is a problem in itself, but it is one that will always have to be faced, whenever the task is undertaken.

But wait a minute. Did I say a new track at Toowoomba before a new track at Eagle Farm?

With no disrespect to the good people at the top of the range, that is astounding.

A re-think on how the problem of the Eagle Farm racing surface can be tackled as soon as this carnival is over is imperative. It goes in the ‘must do’ file.

Metropolitan racing is meant to be the showpiece of the state’s racing and the way it is conducted either gives its image a shine or lets it fade into obscurity.

At the moment, with issues like the track in play, no-one is being blinded by the glare.

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