BROWNIE'S BLOG - CUSHION TRACK OPTION BACK IN PLAY. NOW HOW DO WE PUT IT TO ITS BEST USE?

By Damian Browne | Friday, February 5, 2016

Damian Browne, reigning Queensland's Jockey Of The Year, is rated right up there with the best jockeys in Australia and, as such, his highly informed views make essential reading for anyone in the racing industry. Damian’s column, ‘Brownies Blog’ appears exclusively on HRO

Racing in Queensland officially returns to the cushion track today.

It has been some time since it has been used for a race meeting and there is likely to be plenty of opinion about with regard to its reinstatement.

From a jockey’s point of view, it is a lot different to riding on the grass but you obviously just have to adjust to it.

There is a lot of kick-back. When it is raining it is not as bad but the hotter it is the more kick-back you generally get.

It certainly comes in handy when the wet weather is around though ... as a back-up track to the grass ... and that’s also when the cushion track races best.

It obviously doesn’t suit a lot of horses but it does suit others. I mean, all over the world whether it be Britain, America, Hong Kong or Singapore they do it.

I think there is still a niche for it but, for the moment, because we haven’t raced on it for so long there are no form-lines for horses on the track.

When we stopped there was a form-line starting to build out of it and now we pretty much have to start from scratch again if we are going to re-establish that very necessary information for punters.

If they race on it regularly it will still probably take as long as six to twelve months to gather a reasonable database of cushion track form and that is the dilemma.

It is going to be difficult for the punters anyway, even if meetings are specifically scheduled for the cushion track. If they only use it as a back-up track and race on it twice a year that doesn’t help punters at all ... and racing, to survive, has to maximise betting turnover.

So I think some serious thought has to be put into weighing up how best the cushion track can be used as an asset.

I have heard that in the new draft fixture list for next season that some of the suggested Wednesday and Friday night meetings at Corbould Park might take place on the cushion track.

I don’t know exactly what their programming is, and it has still to be confirmed anyway, but my understanding is that the cushion track might be used on a more regular basis, which will be good in terms of establishing the form that punters need to be interested in the meeting.

In that sense, it would be an added plus to racing, instead of being just a last resort venue.

The bottom line for me is that you have got to use the cushion track on at least a semi-regular basis for it to play a proper role. If they are going to use it at all they are going to have to use it regularly.

If we are only going to use it once every three months or so, when the grass track is weather affected, than the cushion track option being back in use under those circumstances is probably going to become a very frustrating one for owners, trainers and obviously punters.

So, in spite of the fact that the cushion track has many detractors, I feel there is an opportunity there to work it into our racing product.

If they are going to use the cushion track, even on a semi-regular basis, it is going to need work put into it and obviously that is going to take money as well. That is something that the powers that be are going to have to weigh up.

Either way, it’s got to be all about building the product and looking at different avenues to create a greater interest in racing.

I’m not for a minute saying the cushion track is the answer to anything in itself but I do think it is something that can be looked at closely though, to see if it could play a part in any improved racing setup ... and there can’t be any harm in that!

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I’m sitting today’s meeting out, under suspension.

I enjoy the time off, but I obviously still get to watch races, if not live then I do watch all of the replays.

You can’t afford to do otherwise. You have got to keep your finger on the pulse but, at the same time it is nice to have a break. I haven’t been on a horse all week and I’ve been very happy to spend time with my family.

It’s been a good week, but the time passes quickly and I’ll soon be ready to change pace and get back to riding again.

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