MY CALL: FINANCIAL REPORT IS POSITIVE ON THE SURFACE BUT IT DOES RAISE SEVERAL QUESTIONS
By David Fowler | Tuesday, October 3, 2017
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.
Racing Queensland's positive financial turnaround, as we forecast, is welcome news.
It doesn't equate to money growing on trees all of a sudden but sets a platform for growth.
For the record, a $21.8 million loss in 2015-16 has been whittled back to $2.2 million.
Hopefully, RQ's short and long term vision can be converted to reality on their proposed timelines.
Yet their 2016-17 annual report raises several questions. In my mind, at least.
Why is it stated in the annual report that $43.8 million will be available for infrastructure funding from 2020 to 2023 when the recently released infrastructure plan says it is $57 million?
Where has the apparent missing $13 or so million gone?
Racing Queensland confirms it contributes $14.8 million to the $26.9 costs of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission,
Do they have commensurate say in QRIC affairs to the 55% they financially contribute?
How could on-course bookmaker turnover increase for thoroughbred racing in the last financial year?
They say the facts don't lie but I'm intrigued to know how that upward spiral was achieved
Will the minimum bet rule with all wagering providers be triggered in January next year as announced?
Why is no firm decision made in relation to the future of the Albion Park raceway announced in the annual report?
It's a case of Racing Queensland fiddling while harness racing burns.
Three has been no commitment to harness racing infrastructure plans. Only "vision".
Is the Albion Park issue an "inconvenient" one with the spectre of a state election looming large?
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The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission also released its first annual report.
One paragraph caught my eye.
To quote directly, "in 2017 there were three arrests made for Match (race) Fixing. It was a first for Queensland and heralded as evidence of systematic race fixing in the harness racing industry"
I, and many others, would totally dispute that assertion.
Is "match fixing" the same as "race rigging"?
Only time will tell once all is revealed after the court cases.
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Provincial racing is in good shape.
That's my assessment after broadcasting meetings at Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Beaudesert over the long weekend.
Well presented tracks being run by good committees and good administrations.
The void with Eagle Farm being on the sidelines is being admirably filled.
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