MY CALL - WHEN EXPECTATION MEETS REALITY. A LOOK BACK AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT RANDWICK

By David Fowler | Tuesday, April 12, 2016

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's time to redefine our expectations of The Championships.

After three years it's worth asking is there too much prizemoney being spent, is the international presence becoming a myth and why isn't the public embracing this feast of racing?

Worthy discussion points as three runnings is fairly sufficient to make some observations.

Above all, the Championships is never going to rival Melbourne's Spring Carnival. Full stop.

The stark difference in attendance figures clearly demonstrate that so the comparison as a talking point should stop straightaway. Forget about it. Isn't going to happen.

The high levels of prizemoney are criticised publicly and privately.

Half the money would achieve the same quality of fields is the general consensus.

This is a curly one.

The lofty levels of prizemoney were well intentioned. They were devised to challenge the Melbourne supremacy, bring the internationals which in turn would result in whopping attendance figures.

None of those goals have been realised so what to do?

And this is where it gets curly. Does a more realistic appraisal of the prizemoney levels (read reduce) signal an admission of defeat. Not a good look.

But keeping these huge purses risks prolonging the angst of those who argue for a hike in the "bread and butter races"

I fancy the current levels will remain and I've got an open mind if that's the result.

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I wouldn't give up on the international presence being a factor.

While it's understood the Europeans are a longshot because of the time of year, the Japanese are still worth pursuing.

This operation might need some more resources thrown at it, human and financial.

I'm not convinced the international presence is such a great catalyst for the Melbourne Spring but the pursuit is not worth scrapping altogether.

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The racing was brilliant as was the weather but the crowds just didn't turn up.

Around 22,000 on the first day and 25,000 on the second. Similar figures at the Melbourne Carnival would have administrators jumping off cliffs.

You can argue The Championships Is still finding its feet but that line of thought wears thinner each year.

Is Randwick too hard to get into and too hard to get out of? Worth considering.

Is April the right time of year? Tough luck on this one because all the best dates are already locked in.

All good talking points. I'm sure the Sydney administration are a lot smarter and armed with more facts than myself but whatever the conclusions, The Championships needs a reset button added to its armoury for 2017.

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The State Government continues to be exposed by its lack of consultation with the racing industry.

Its own Parliamentary Committee pointed this out in response to the Queensland Integrity Bill, ready to be debated next week.

And then the thoroughbred representative appointment of Jim Rundle demonstrated how far out of touch it is.

Rundle, in my opinion, had no genuine claim to secure a position on the Board. Political infighting resulted in his appointment. They, the Government, were saved by Rundle's Facebook postings.

Simply, they we're let off the hook.

A rigorous investigation of the parallel universes of the Government and the recruitment agency might also dig up a can of worms.

Racing is a strange beast. You can't dance around the edges and then claim knowledge. Skin in the game takes some time to know "who's who in the zoo."

No point in beating the chest if you don't know what you're talking about.

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It's hard to believe we've been sharing thoughts every Tuesday for five years on horseracingonly.com.au.

I hope we can go another five at the very least.

But a short break first.

Look forward to being back on May 3 as we prepare for the 2016 Racing Carnival.

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