MY CALL: RECENT UPHEAVAL PRESENTS 'NEW' OPPORTUNITIES THAT CLUBS & RQ NEED TO EMBRACE

By David Fowler | Tuesday, June 9, 2020

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 recent disruption to normal life is slowly being put behind us.

Thank goodness, I say, for one who has been in the “overreaction” corner but that’s a story for another time and place.

The speed of moving back to normalcy largely depends on those pulling the levers.

In the racing industry’s case, regardless of the state, it is the respective State Government and the controlling body.

The Palaszczuk Government has come under fire particularly for their insistence of keeping the state border closed despite the paucity of active cases.

Racing Queensland, on balance, has managed the situation well despite not seeking special dispensation for interstate jockeys to ride on Stradbroke day and not moving speedier to gain State Government approval for groups of 20 people to utilize the many available designated areas that Eagle Farm can facilitate for the same meet.

But those ships have sailed so the rear vision mirror is not the place to look.

_____________________________________________________________________

First and foremost, RQ must return the racing schedules and prizemoney levels to pre-Covid 19 times.

The just-released July race dates looks to have ticked that box and the industry now eagerly awaits the news on the prizemoney renewal.

But this recent upheaval also presents new opportunities that RQ must embrace.

I should rephrase the term “new opportunities” because these are responsibilities that should always be high on the ladder of RQ’s charter.

And maybe that haven’t been attended to as diligently as they should have been.

_____________________________________________________________________

While racing has continued largely uninterrupted, the experience “at the track” has been put on ice with patron-free racing.

Race clubs, once they get the nod, must shoulder the task of re-engaging with their members and the general public.

But Racing Queensland must address the broader issue of industry participation.

And that falls into two categories, framing the racing industry as a viable career option and enticing people to becoming owners.

It’s a fair question to ask what inroads have been made on both fronts in recent times.

It’s too easy to keep on a path where racing simply dwarfs to an off-course product.

The recent crisis has only accentuated that trajectory.

Racing Queensland and race clubs need to get the house back in order and then start working on the future, short and long term.

It is non-negotiable.

David Fowler