MY CALL - RACING INDUSTRY NEEDS A REALITY CHECK

By David Fowler | Tuesday, November 11, 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.

The racing industry needs to have a decent look outside its own backyard and see what’s happening in the real world.

The deaths of Admire Rakti and Araldo last Tuesday precipitated the usual argy bargy between animal activists and anyone who had the ability to raise a voice in racing.

The “she said, he said” tit-for-tat was predictable and generally it was opportunists seizing a sound bite or a headline here or there.

And I’m afraid to say that’s on both sides of the fence.

So often genuine debate in our society is taken hold of by a select few who run their agendas leaving a silent majority in their wake.

The ongoing brouhaha between animal activists and the racing industry has dragged on for too long.

Whether it be jumping races, the use of whips, two-year-old racing or general horse welfare, the activists often have blinkered vision.

They are stubborn in their beliefs and won’t let facts spoil their brief.

But it’s also fair to say there is a genuine love for the animal.

And what probably enhances that stubbornness is the racing industry’s high-handed and somewhat pompous approach to issues that they are passionate about.

Frankly, racing is such an insular world. Many of us, myself included, believe we are more significant or important than we really are.

A reality check is needed for many of us.

Forget the animal activists and think of a young girl or boy who asks their mum or dad, “why is that man hitting that horse”… or … ”why did that horse fall over that fence it jumped.”

Racing people know horses or greyhounds are well cared for but the root problem is we think that everyone else knows that as well.

We don’t allow them into the inner circle and wave them on by saying, “everything is OK. We know best.”

I know what happened to Admire Rakti and Araldo were tragic accidents, but many don’t.

And until we offer an olive branch, as small as it might be, and realise we are not untouchable, we somewhat deserve what we get.

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I doubt the issue of six and seven race cards with small fields is just a flash in the pan.

This rather disconcerting scenario is now trending into its third week.

The rail is true at Ipswich tomorrow and there are just 55 acceptors racing for $20,000 purses.

The issue has been gradually seeping into the Saturday set-up, demonstrated by the fact barely seven races were achieved at Doomben last weekend.

Is the present horse pool too small for the amount of product that has to be delivered to fulfil visual and betting contracts?

Do we need to monitor how many horses and in what classes are available and then program accordingly?

Are occasional Saturday maidens an option and do we combine maidens and class 1’s in some of our lower provincial races, particularly over longer distances?

Do we program consecutive race days for Gatton, Kilcoy and Beaudesert considering they cater for a similar pool?

The above few paragraphs are meant to demonstrate one thing. ASK QUESTIONS!

Whether it be a Racing Queensland think tank or a gathering of interested stakeholders, nothing will change if we just groan about the small fields.

Until next week.

David Fowler