MY CALL - RACING'S FUN DAYS ALLOW A WELCOME RESPITE FROM THE SERIOUS SIDE OF THE BUSINESS

By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 16, 2014

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.

Hardly hearing the word "turnover" was a delight to my ears during the past weekend of racing.

I was privileged to broadcast the 56th Cairns Amateurs Carnival and the second Deagon Picnic race-day.
Attendances were huge in Cairns and the Deagon numbers were similar to 12 months ago.

While the younger demographic dominated the Cairns numbers, the family element was strong at Deagon.
But the common denominator to both was that racing was fun for people.

Yes, just that, simply fun.

People gathered in big numbers for an event. Racing was built around those events, not the other way around.

The flutters would have been generally modest and overall turnover would not have stacked up in comparison to more "serious" meetings.

But you know what, who cares?

RQ chairman Kevin Dixon has so often said he is prepared to "take a hit" occasionally on turnover if the event promotes racing outside of a dollar sign or a bottom line.

Queensland can hold its head high that Cairns, Deagon and Birdsville allow us national exposure on what is a quieter month in the Sunshine State.

And to the financial boffins, leave the adding up to another day.

We can wear it.

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Speaking of number crunchers, they might be out in force for the upcoming BRC election.

In a surprise twist, businesswoman Dylys Bertelsen has thrown her hat into the ring in no uncertain manner, delivering a fairly forceful letter to members.

Ms Bertelsen highlights her business acumen and the fact she is a woman as her most powerful points for election.

The CV is impressive but aren't the "gender wars" a bit old hat these days?

Just because a woman is not on the Board doesn't equate to discrimination.

You wouldn't meet a better bunch of guys on the BRC committee with a wide ranges of skills to boast.

But Ms Bertelsen certainly means business.

Nevertheless, it will be a tough battle to oust David Dawson, Richard Morrison and Steve Gleeson who are up for re-election.

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The rail going out to 8.5 metres at Doomben this Saturday will sorely test the relationship between participants and the BRC.

Let alone the punters.

There was some deserved chatter about the 7.5 metres position last weekend that saw some very slowly run races.

And there's also the issue of reduced field sizes.

Leader domination can be prevalent with wide rail positioning and often horses are ridden differently to suit that pattern.

I understand Doomben has to be treated with kid gloves with Eagle Farm out of play but surely the present spate of fine weather should count for something.

To be frank, an 8.5 metre rail position at Doomben on a Saturday is pushing the envelope on several fronts.

Until next week.

David Fowler