MY CALL - LIVE STREAMING OF QUEENSLAND RACING COMMISSION OF INQUIRY MAKES RIVETING THEATRE
By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 24, 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.
It is the best show in town.
The Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry is barely three days old but racing junkies breathlessly swap thoughts and opinions at each day's end.
Hello live streaming!
To observe proceedings through the live streaming is a masterstroke. The split screen only adds to the enthralling theatre.
Rather than wait for the next day précis in the mainstream media, you can make your own mind up from the comfort of your lounge-room.
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One striking feature of the three sitting days is how confident Counsel Assisting James Bell QC grapples with his topics.
He could split an atom if his precision in making cases is any yardstick!
And, yes, former RQ chairman Bob Bentley has been the sole witness on a long list so an expected closure date of next Monday is nigh on impossible.
Bell is in no hurry. Nearly every assertion or question has a page reference as he painstakingly develops his case on each matter.
It's like waiting for the big thunder clap in a storm as he dangerously gathers momentum.
Unlike some, I don't delight in seeing Bentley in this position. In fact, his demeanour under grilling is commendable.
However the issues being discussed are highly relevant. These were issues that had much of the racing industry up in arms during the Bentley regime.
They deserve having the questions asked and everyone can make their own mind up about the answers given.
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Yesterday's third sitting was not a good one for Bentley. To me it looked like he basically surrendered the white flag on the Bill Ludwig proxy issue. Maybe it was late in the day.
Of more interest to me was the behind-the-scene dealings with Bentley and the state Labor government on the original infrastructure plan.
Yesterday's questioning in my opinion left no doubt that harness and greyhound racing were hoodwinked into becoming part of a merger in 2010 in the belief Albion Park would be refurbished for harness and Logan would be a stand-alone venue for greyhounds.
All the while, seemingly a different plan was being executed by Bentley with, surprise, surprise, no input from the harness (Bob Lette) or greyhound (Kerry Watson) members of the new RQL board.
Bentley ran his operation with a "my way or the highway" approach. As such, he now reaps what he sowed.
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Have I missed something?
When I was in Cairns for the Amateurs carnival, the big news was that phase two of the Newman Government's infrastructure plan would be announced in a day or two.
The behind-the-scenes briefings I received were positive.
A fortnight later, zilch!
Each code has high priority issues that have been canvassed in this blog over the last six months.
We need some direction and soon.
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Businesses are now starting to canvass ideas for Christmas parties.
Yes, it is only three months to the big day.
The BRC is breaking new ground by holding a twilight fixture on Friday December 6 at Doomben.
They are hoping such a timeslot will encourage corporates to choose a Friday afternoon at the races between 3pm and 7pm as their party choice.
The concept has been a winner in Adelaide for years and I'm sure BRC will receive a similar response.
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Which present racing, Sydney or Melbourne, is giving you the most excitement?
One should expect it's Sydney, considering they're at the pointy end of the carnival, culminating in Saturday week's Epsom.
But Melbourne has produced Atlantic Jewel's Memsie return, Fiorente's dynamic Dato Chin Nam triumph and It's A Dundeel Underwood conquering of Atlantic Jewel.
And their carnival doesn't officially start until early next month.
Sorry Sydney, Zoustar and Streama don't quite cut the mustard.
Until next week.
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