MY CALL: WILL THE THOROUGHBRED REPRESENTATIVE ON THE RACING QUEENSLAND BOARD PLEASE STAND UP

By David Fowler | Tuesday, April 30, 2019

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.

This is a case where the devil is not in the detail!

Doesn’t it strike you as disturbing that a thoroughbred representative has been not been announced … yet … for the incoming Racing Queensland Board?

The “new” Board takes effect from tomorrow.

It beggars belief not one person could be found suitable to replace outgoing thoroughbred rep Mark Sowerby who chose not to renominate.

It isn’t as if they were afforded precious little time. Sowerby’s intentions had been clear for some time.

The chatter is that the considered replacement could not fulfil the role because of work commitments.

Fair enough but surely there is a list of alternatives at the ready. Surely.

Were there others who knocked back the role?

This would seem odd if it was the case because the position is far from the poisoned chalice it might have been considered three years ago.

Racing Queensland is now far more robust financially and that is tipped to keep trending in the right direction.

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The term “new” Board is a stretch. Susannah George will be replaced by Jane Seawright.

Some had chair Steve Wilson for the “high-jump” but common sense on several fronts dictated his reappointment.

MY CALL believes harness racing representative Marg Reynolds and her greyhound counterpart Dale Cartwright were lucky to keep their spots, save for lack of alternatives.

But whether they are told directly or simply feel the vibe, both industries are expecting them to command a stronger presence on the Board from as soon as tomorrow.

Which brings us back to the odd situation of a thoroughbred representative missing when the starter fires the gun.

Recently-retired Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk was sensibly touted yet up till two weeks ago had not a heard a peep out of George Street.

It is to be hoped this missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle does not create hasty or ill-informed decisions on who is to fill the role.

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To end, one more illustration of the devil not being in the detail.

It was announced that Ross Barnett had secured another three year term of Queensland Racing Integrity.

But not a mention in the same release of any modifications to QRIC/QCAT story, promised by the Racing Minister two months ago.

I suppose we will just have to watch this space, on more than one front.

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