IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on the overdue announcement of an investigation into the development of on-course stabling at Cluden.
Butts reveals how Townsville Turf Club officials see the stabling as one solution to major safety and viability issues confronting Cluden with a Bruce Highway over-pass threatening traffic chaos.
His column also includes items on Home Hill Cup day, the 150th anniversary milestone at Bowen and several jockeys battling to return to the saddle in the north.
Here is the Butts column:
WILL THE ON-COURSE STABLING PROJECT FINALLY GET UNDERWAY AT CLUDEN?
THE only snippet of good news for the Townsville Turf Club in recent days has been Racing Queensland’s announcement of funding ‘to further investigate the development of on-course stabling’ at Cluden.
Yes - Ho Hum and a dozen yawns – we’ve heard it all before – many times in fact over many years.
Proponents and supporters of the much needed on-course stabling facility were rightly peeved when RQ announced several weeks ago it was providing funds for exactly the same thing at Mackay.
So last week’s announcement was in a word, welcomed.
And seriously it couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.
PLANS FOR THE BRUCE HIGHWAY OVERPASS THREATEN SAFETY OF CLUDEN
THE Townsville Turf Club is in very delicate negotiations with governments (State and Federal), Townsville City Council and Main Roads over the Bruce Highway overpass that the officials fear will threaten the safety and viability of Cluden racecourse.
The current plans (mind you they have been changed three times in 12 months) would see the recognized stable suburb of Cluden cleared of horses to make way for an industrial precinct.
If the latest plans are adopted standby for fireworks that will make the Franklin Dam demonstrations look like a Girl Guides’ Sunday arvo picnic.
The latest plans, presented by Main Roads with absolutely no consultation with the century old Turf Club, are designed to satisfy the wishes of a Townsville investment group keen to establish a massive truck stop on the Bruce Highway, just down the race from the racecourse, when plain simple logic would dictate that it be located on the wide open spaces on either side of the new Port Access road.
The Turf Club has been told the one and only entrance to the racecourse will be off the existing roundabout that already services the bustling new suburb of Fairfield Waters, the large shopping centre and Bunnings.
Just imagine the chaos on race day with buses, taxis, private cars, horse floats and trailers all contesting with Fairfield residents, and supermarket shoppers, plus the highway travelers, for right of way on the roundabout.
Please!
CONSTRUCTION OF MAJOR ON-COURSE STABLING WILL RELIEVE HORSE TRAFFIC
THE construction of on 88 on-course stables near the 1000m will relieve a lot of the local horse traffic, but Townsville is the recognized hub of North Queensland racing and horses travel from all points north, south and west.
Another major truck stop (there is already one at Fairfield) is high on the list of things that are simply not needed in the Cluden precinct and politicians on both sides have been put on notice.
But the TTC plugs on in spite all its woes – past and current.
The club lost its two main sponsors for the Cup and Great Northern this year and now the land occupied by the float park and some of the race day stalls is under severe threat.
But at a function at the racecourse on Saturday night it was announced that the 100 Club was fully subscribed for the first time since its inception.
The club started with a membership of 72, rose to 80, and when the proprietor of the new and highly impressive Strand Emporium and Coffee Shop, Joanne Taylor, claimed membership at Saturday’s function the 100 Club became fully subscribed.
‘BEST LITTLE COUNTRY CLUB IN AUSTRALIA’ PREPARES FOR CUP DAY
THEY call Home Hill the ‘best little country race club in Australia’.
The Mooney Valley of the North is all dressed up for Cup day there on Saturday week, May 18.
That is the day the whole town and most of the surrounding farmers get together for what has become the Burdekin’s Big Day Out.
In a unique gesture, the growers of the district provide every on-course patron with a box – and I mean a box – box full to the brim with locally grown produce. It has been going on for years and the public love it.
One time the Home Hill Cup (1800m) was a considered a major lead-up for the Townsville Cup in July. And the winner at Home Hill had a ballot-free entry into the big race in Townsville.
Unfortunately that was changed some years ago but the race is always keenly contested and the list of winners over the years contains some very smart horses.
BOWEN PREPARING TO CELEBRATE ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY IN JUNE
THREE weeks after the Home Hill Cup, Bowen’s celebrates its 150th anniversary and plans are well advanced to commemorate this milestone on June 8.
The meeting will certainly be a highlight of an action-packed month of racing in the north.
It all kicks off on June 1, with the Mike Carney Tomcar Two-Year-Old Classic (formerly Parry Nissan), to be followed the next day by a big family day at Ingham for the Country Series meeting.
Of course it is also carnival time in Rockhampton for most of June that precedes the Mackay and Townsville annuals.
JOCKEYS BATTLING TO BOOST DEPLETED RIDING RANKS IN NORTH
WHILE Peter Cullen wrestles with his doctors for a clearance to return to the seriously depleted riding ranks, colleague Jason Stopps had another impediment to his wretched run of luck last week at Cluden that will see him sidelined again.
Jason, just returned from a serious back injury, came down heavily and fractured a wrist which will see him out of action again for several weeks.
Meanwhile Cullen is just itching to get back to doing what he does best and reckons it will be ‘before month’s end.’
Does that mean his favorite mount Cash Attack could be heading south for the Mackay Amateur Cup on May 28?
CAIRNS TO RESUME RACING ON SATURDAY ON A NEW TRACK THAT IS ATTRACTING PRAISE
AND the good news is that Cairns will commence racing again on Saturday on a track that has been described by leading local trainer Trevor Rowe as ‘fantastic’.
Six horses galloped on the new grass surface last week and the jockeys came back full of praise.
“There was no kick-back. It was just fantastic,” said Rowe.
It is good news for the club that has battled track controversy for several years.
Meanwhile, Rowe’s star apprentice Braydn Swaffer still battles a mystery and debilitating influenza bug that had him at one stage admitted to coronary care at Cairns Base Hospital.
He has not ridden for several weeks but his master reports there are signs of improvement and hopefully young Braydn will be back in the saddle soon.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.