MY CALL - ANOTHER EPIC CUP DAY AT IPSWICH
By David Fowler | Tuesday, June 18, 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.
The inside section of Ipswich's course proper was a "no-go zone" at Saturday's Cup meet.
This section had been protected specifically for their big day. I know you'll tell me that Anagold and Handsome Dane used inside runs to winning advantages but both of those races were at the end of 2150m slogs.
All other winners navigated a similar middle track path and came from off the speed.
Is it desirable for parts of tracks to be protected for big days? Unfortunately, bias often results.
And don't take my word for it. Jockeys expressed similar sentiments as soon after the opener.
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While the punting hardheads might have been critical of the bias, it was still an epic Cup day.
Just over 20,000 rocked and rolled their way into the Bundamba racecourse and I'm sure were rocking and rolling long after the last.
It's the city's biggest single event and the club deliver an excellent result year in and year out with limited resources.
And the shift of race-day stalls to the centre of the track which will also host a brand spanking new greyhound complex is still on target to begin in January.
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Hallelujah for only 35 minutes between EVERY race at the Cup meet.
This is the perfect gap for thoroughbred race meetings.
Those yawning 40 and 45 minute breaks in summer are unbearable and clubs should get together and tell Sky Racing who manage the clock that it's not on.
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Brisbane Racing Club reported healthy figures for their four Carnival meets with a slight drop on Doomben Cup day compared to 2012.
There has been talk of tinkering with the Carnival program but why I ask?
The racing program is second to none and that's clearly backed up by the quantity and the quality of race-fields from May through to June.
Every south-east club gets a crack at their 15 minutes of fame.
If it ain't broken, why try and fix it.
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Good to see Martin Knibbs back on the city panel of RQ stewards.
The internationally-experienced Knibbs has cooled his heels for too long in Toowoomba after being harness racing's chief stipe for four years.
The mail is Wade Birch will be chairing less meetings so the return of Knibbs is timely.
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