THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - SHOWING THE HORSE DUE RESPECT AT THE RACE TRACK

By Graham Potter | Sunday, October 2, 2016

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

The co-existence at the race track between racegoers in party mode and the sometimes flighty racehorses themselves can be problematic if not managed correctly.

Not every race club gets it right on every race day but if everyone was to take note of the way the Sunshine Coast Turf Club went about things on Friday night at the first of their summer season night fixtures it would go a long way to help setting a standard.

At Corbould Park the sponsor’s entertainment area is located right next to the parade ring. Sponsors are there with their guest to socialise and have a good time and there is more often than not a master of ceremonies who conducts various activities over the duration of the meeting. That role requires a microphone and speakers which can burst into life at any given time when announcements are made.

That sudden, unexpected raising of the noise level has a time and a place ... and that moment is certainly not in the ten to fifteen minutes when the horses are parading within metres of the sponsor’s area.

That would seem to be an obvious point but it is not always one that acknowledged or acted upon hence it was extremely pleasing to see the horse given its due respect on Friday might.

The person in charge of the microphone not only seemed to be acutely aware of the suitable timeframe in which he should interact with the guests but he repeatedly successfully pushed them to cooperate with that schedule.

That meant there was a minimum of unnecessary noise while the horses were in the parade ring. It was only once they had moved onto the track, that the microphone came alive and most of the ‘business’ was conducted in the time from when the horses left the parade ring until the race got under way.

It was all very neatly done and respectful to the horses and riders who ultimately put on the show so congratulations to all concerned on Friday night and long may this procedure continue at the Sunshine Coast.

It would be even better if this ‘understanding’ became a rule of operation, where practical, and that some level of consistency came into play across the board at race clubs between the entertainment branch and the racing side of the meeting ... and that would include how music bands, for example, operate, where they are placed, when they play etc ... on the days they are part of the action.

I certainly don’t want any of the above to become part of a ‘fun police’ operation. Race day entertainers and all racegoers must be encouraged to enjoy every moment of their race day experience as much as they can but they also need to be guided and reminded of the fact that they are at a race track and that horses are an integral part of proceedings.

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The Friday night meeting in fact went well on all fronts and it could be an activity to pencil into the diary for those looking for a different night out in the future.

If you are a glutton for racing and want a rare day / night racing experience you could make that note against October 28 ... when the Sunshine Coast Turf Club will host no less than twelve races!