MY CALL: THE RACE IS INSIDE THE FINAL 100M. WILL THERE BE A WIN IN THERE SOMEWHERE FOR RACING?
By David Fowler | Tuesday, November 21, 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.
The LNP’s policy to return autonomy to each racing code is both bold in vision and correct on the evidence at hand.
The 2010 merger of the three codes has been a failure.
Some, who should know better, try to rewrite history and claim the merger was the saviour of the harness and greyhound codes.
They are either mischievous or downright dishonest in portraying such a scenario.
Both the minor codes were financially robust and in advanced and amicable conversations to revamp Albion Park.
I should know. I was there.
The greyhound industry then jumped at the merger on the basis of a now known false promise while harness racing was strongly pressured after saying an initial “no thanks”.
So what’s the end result after seven and a half years for them. A big fat nothing!
Not a cent spent on infrastructure from both sides of the political fence and a string of Racing Queensland administrations.
Surely anything is better than this.
Harness and greyhound racing participants have felt like second class citizens in the merged structure.
Morale is desperately low.
Promises are viewed with suspicion. Understandably.
They simply want to run their own businesses without having to wait in line for generally no return.
This won’t be an easy task but a six month timetable has been slated to develop a new government model.
***************************************************************************************************
And the LNP aren’t running scared of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission.
In fact, as Shadow Racing Minister Jon Krause pointed out, it’s time for a review after nearly 16 months of operations.
This considered move is not crystal ball stuff either.
It is based on plenty of homework carried out statewide.
This column posed the question last week would the LNP match Labor’s financial takeover of non TAB country racing in the state.
Not only did they promptly do that but added some impressive extra planks.
An extra $16.5 million in prizemoney, a $15 million minor capital works infrastructure fund, a $1million country racing tourism driver and a country racing board will sure seal a lot of racing votes outside south-east Queensland.
Shadow Minister Krause has a firm eye on the Eagle Farm track revamp mark 2.
The LNP should cool their heels here.
Most racing participants are willing to forgo a 2018 Winter Carnival that includes Eagle Farm if the timeline would become a “rush job”.
Racing Queensland was entitled to post a possible return date but they won’t be hung out to dry if it cannot be achieved.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a decision, one way or the other, isn’t made before the end of the year.
***************************************************************************************************
I noticed Moonee Valley and Canterbury raced last Friday night.
Sunshine Coast didn’t.
Sunshine Coast will race this Friday night.
I notice Moonee Valley and Canterbury won’t.
Why is this so?
More articles
|