MY CALL: A SIMPLE QUESTION WITH NO EASY ANSWER
By David Fowler | Tuesday, October 18, 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.
Who is best to run racing?
This could be arguably the toughest question in the world.
It's pertinent to raise considering the present turmoil at the top end at Racing Victoria and John Messara's sudden and surprise departure as Racing NSW chairman.
The question seems simple in itself but has footnotes that trail endlessly.
One tenet that seems to pop up stronger than anything else is the question of independence versus involvement.
I believe Messara has done an outstanding job at the helm of Racing NSW but he will always be labelled with "the conflict of interest" tag because of his breeding and ownership interests.
People like Messara just can't win.
It would seem an independent chairman is the safest route to take, a la Steve Wilson at Racing Queensland.
But racing is a business and those at the controls must have a proven track record in business so Wilson gets a tick again.
I've said at length that racing is a "curious beast" and little or no knowledge of its workings can lead you down a very dangerous path.
Read Mike Baird and greyhound racing on this one.
In the 35 years I've been covering racing in the media, it has disappointed me on more than one occasion that a board or a committee is bereft of a member or members with no punting knowledge.
It's such an integral part of the business yet is often invisible in a board’s makeup.
A person like Lindsay Gallagher, a semi-retired Brisbane bookmaker and successful in business generally, would be an ideal choice for a Board.
And at the risk of running my own conflict of interest agenda, it continues to amaze me that racing media are overlooked for administrative posts.
These are people who appreciate the racing pulse from all fronts, largely due to their contact with all sections of the industry.
Naturally, a smart CEO and a clever management team are necessary to underpin a Board's success.
Racing Queensland mightn't tick all those boxes but it seems poised to head in the right direction.
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Racing Queensland's CEO Dr Eliot Forbes didn't give much away in our interview on Radio TAB's Press Room on Monday.
I'm glad he didn't.
He's been in the driver's seat for two months which had basically been a meeting and greeting exercise.
Now that he's gleaned information left, right, and centre, his next immediate task is to choose his management team.
I gather by his words that this process will involve serious consideration. Good.
Recent appointments by previous management reaked havoc in all codes.
Infrastructure projects will be of high priority as the March 31 deadline submission to State Government looms closer every day.
It's a tight schedule.
And the logic of who gets what, and who doesn't, will be carefully thought out.
Forbes is an extra smart administrator. You can bet on it.
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Two months ago, many wanted the Eagle Farm track ripped up.
Condemned as a failure
"They" knew despite the Brisbane Racing Club team saying it was a work in progress and time and warmer weather would yield results.
BRC's Eagle Farm track manager Sean Bridges and his workers have been clearly vindicated and there is still further potential improvement.
Not surprisingly, little credit on Twitter has been offered in stark contrast to the vitriol of months past.
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