IT IS A NICE CHANGE WHEN JOCKEYS PRAISE THE RACING SURFACE. DOOMBEN SCORES A HIGH PASS MARK

By Graham Potter | Monday, November 9, 2020

Racing surfaces are so often a bone of contention these days that is always good when a positive story emerges on the subject.

People are often very quick to complain when they think the track is not in good order, but you seldom read about the positive stories. So, when riders at Doomben on Saturday were full of praise for the track which was hosting racing action for third time in the last eight days, their comments were well worth recording.

“The track is absolutely beautiful,” said Larry Cassidy. “You sort of complain when you get those heavy downpours and meetings are called off,” (two meetings had to abandoned mid-meeting over the previous two Saturdays at Doomben and the Gold Coast), but it does the tracks the world of good and the Doomben track is exceptional with the benefit of the rain have we had.”

Michael Cahill, who can be seen walking the track before each and every meeting in which he rides, gave a similar glowing assessment in his own quiet way.

“One hundred percent. The Doomben track is in really good order,” said Cahill. “It is racing very well.

Luke Dittman endorsed those comments.

“I was quite impressed with the Doomben track considering all of the rain we have had over the last couple of weeks … and the fact that we have only got one metropolitan track up and running at the moment. It does an amazing job and all of the track staff should be congratulated on doing a great job,” said Dittman.

In this current day of age, track workloads have never been heavier. That, and the extremes of weather, often play against the best efforts of track managers. It is a twenty-four / seven job that takes both dedication and patience to pull off.

Even when you are winning, there can be no let-up. The next challenge can be right around the corner, but you can take the win in the moment … and for the Brisbane Racing Club Racetrack Manager Jim Roberts and his team right now is one of those occasions making them absolutely deserving of all the praise that has come their way.