MY CALL - THE PROPOSED, ENCHANCED FEATURE RACE PROGRAM WILL BE A PLUS FOR QUEENSLAND RACING

By David Fowler | Tuesday, September 1, 2015

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.

Terrific news that feature racing will be spread between mid April and early July next year if the Racing Queensland draft report is approved.

It's worth noting my language. "Feature racing" not "Carnival", as some are incorrectly interpreting.

I've heard in some despatches there was moaning and groaning that the "carnival" would go too long if these start and finish dates were implemented.

Do they think that the Melbourne Carnival began last Saturday because the Memsie was a Group One?

The Melbourne Carnival begins on the October long weekend and ends on Stakes day. Simple.

And with due respect to other clubs, the Winter Carnival revolves around the "big 5" at Eagle Farm and Doomben.

This year was a one off because of the Eagle Farm closure.

Those complaining are reading too much into the word "carnival". It's a nonsense.

Please understand, "feature racing" starts on April 16 2016, not the "carnival".

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Taking Doomben Cup day out of the equation this year forced a logjam of that day's features into other carnival meets.

In turn that forced a fair share of metropolitan gallopers not at the A grade level to turn their attention to the provincial tracks for lesser monies.

I don't think that's fair.

In fact, I'd like to see some Class 6 or metropolitan racing be afforded some higher monies in 2016 at the city tracks.

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Sky racing is playing with fire running races post 5pm in the Winter.

Doomben nearly ran into a nasty predicament last weekend when the last race schedule of 5:13 was confronted with extremely dark conditions.

This was caused by overhead cloud cover and approaching rain.

Why push the envelope so far?

Only a week earlier we signed off at 4:30.

Back to the round table BRC and Sky Racing, I suggest.

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Bart Cummings' sad passing has dominated the news cycle over the past 48 hours.

Extensive coverage outside the sporting pages and a State Funeral clearly demonstrated his presence was felt well outside of racing.

Now it's up to racing's state jurisdictions or principal clubs to thinktank an appropriate way to perpetuate his memory.

Because racing jealously guards its state borders, a national approach is unlikely.

Time to put the thinking cap on Queensland.

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There are still a few seats left on our Cox Plate tour in October.

The bonus is we travel to Melbourne on Friday so can click our heels up at the Manikato Stakes night meet before backing up for Plate day.

We'll have plenty of fun. Give Ambassador Travel a call on (07) 3229 6555.

David Fowler