MY CALL: AN AGGRESSIVE PUSH FOR A FOURTH RACING CODE IS STARTING TO GAIN SERIOUS MOMENTUM
By David Fowler | Monday, October 16, 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.
EXCLUSIVE:
The spectre of a fourth racing code in Queensland is firmly on the horizon. Again.
The Australian Quarter Horse Racing Development (AQHRD) is making another aggressive push to establish the industry as a viable fourth betting option to the other three established codes.
The AQHRD was granted interim control body status by the then LNP state government in early 2014 but things went suddenly silent.
But the wheels are moving again…and not slowly either.
Racing Minister Grace Grace advanced an amended control body approval in May and the AQHRD business case was delivered earlier last month.
The group would not be a stand-alone control body and would merge into the present Racing Queensland model.
Discussions with QRIC regarding integrity and welfare have been undertaken.
A prizemoney pool of approximately $3.3 million would cover 52 race meetings hosting eight race cards.
It is believed the funding is outside of the Racing Queensland pool.
A class system would be four-tiered with up to 12 runners competing at 15 minute intervals.
Quarter horse racing has a strong footprint in the USA and an American presence is clear on the current AQHRD board.
Many will recall the opening event at Toowoomba races used to be a quarter horse race up the straight.
The industry had its beginnings in Australia in the late seventies but was outlawed by the State Government in 1993.
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I’m certain the State Government will examine this business case seriously.
The concept of the same number of horses over a short distance and 15 minute gaps conjures up the idea of the recreational punter’s “quick fix”.
Similar to greyhound racing.
Could this proposal be another avenue to utilise the proposed lights at the Gold Coast track?
Watch this space.
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These long delays before QCAT appeals are heard is totally unacceptable.
The amazing thing is no-one is disagreeing with this assertion.
But enough of the talking. A solution has to be found.
And until one is found, the system will become more and more clogged.
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