MY CALL - CONDON AN EXCELLENT CHOICE AS RQ CEO

By David Fowler | Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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.

I received a phone call in early 2009. It was from Darren Condon.

Back in the racing business under the QTC banner, he was keen to establish an on-track TV operation with betting and enclosure reports and pre and post-race interviews with jockeys and trainers.

Of course it became BRCTV which is now an integral part of each Saturday's metropolitan meeting.

Condon impressed me then with his knowledge and passion for racing honed from very early years.

Those features make him an excellent choice as Racing Queensland's CEO, a poorly kept secret and soon to be ratified.

Racing is a peculiar business. If your knowledge is limited and you start trying to make a footprint you can look awfully foolish.

There are smarter and better paid executives around Australia than Darren Condon.

But he KNOWS racing and he LOVES racing and the italics aren't typos.

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Linton's extraordinary passage to win the Stradbroke shouldn't come as a major shock.

Nicholas Hall simply used a fast lane that was unused the previous Saturday when the rail was positioned out 3.5 metres compared to the true placement on the weekend.

Sky Racing's Alan Thomas was spot on when he said you won't see a win like that in a Stradbroke for a very long time to come. If ever.

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We nearly got Buffering home in the Straddy. Nearly.

How often though is it "nearly" with Queensland's pride and joy.

He had his chance Saturday, controlling a 47.7 first 800 metres and was simply outsprinted.

Yet his owners raised a cheer on return to scale that would have made you thought they'd won.

Great scenes. Oh so close but yet so far.
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The Eagle Farm track revamp has got the green light and no one is happier than BRC racecourse manager Bill Shuck.

He will finally end up with the finances to put in place some ambitious plans.

Expect an October start which will kick start a six month project.

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Enjoyed calling another country showcase meeting which was at Gatton on Monday.

Brian Guy's Dienekes ran out a strong winner in the $20,000 feature. Guy captured the 2001 Gatton Cup with Master Raider then ridden by an up-and-coming apprentice in Michael Rodd.

The concept of engaging country racing folk with their local track at TAB fixtures is sound but is the "hit" on TAB turnover too harsh.

Would a similar attendance have resulted from a Sunday showcase meeting at Gatton with TAB status but on Sky 2?

Why can't Queensland run two meetings on the same day like Victoria and New South Wales do daily?

Food for thought.

We're on the country trail this week with Beaudesert on Friday and the Ipswich Cup day on Saturday.

See you there.

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