IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports how the big winners of the decision to scrap the ‘Terrible Tuesdays’ have been Townsville and Mackay.
Butts also reports on the death of a popular North Queensland trainer and how the bookmaking numbers at the Grafton carnival have sadly depleted over the years.
Here is the Butts’ column:
DECISION BY RQ TO SCRAP ‘TERRIBLE TUESDAYS’ WELCOMED BY MACKAY AND TOWNSVILLE
THE decision by Racing Queensland to scrap Tuesday race days across the state has been hailed as a significant win by two major TAB provincial clubs, Mackay and Townsville
Dubbed the ‘Terrible Tuesdays’, these clubs always battled to attract the betting public – in fact often ran meetings at a loss – and TAB turnover was well below meetings conducted on other days of the week.
Townsville and Mackay shared most Tuesday dates throughout the season.
The switch was initiated by Townsville Turf Club chairman Kevin O’Keefe at a recent meeting of the chairmen of all RQ clubs.
“They (Tuesdays) are simply no good- for anyone” O’Keefe said.
The decision to scrap the Tuesdays was made at the weekend as part of a rescheduling of race dates throughout the state that is caused by the closure of Eagle Farm for its $22mn upgrade.
NO MENTION OF RESCHEDULING FOR WORK TO START AT CLUDEN PARK
THERE was no mention however of a rescheduling of dates in North Queensland when (hopefully) work starts on Cluden Park’s much-needed upgrade.
Earlier reports indicate the main beneficiaries of the Townsville dates to be forfeited between September and early New Year will be Mackay and Cairns.
There has already been a pledge that no dates will be lost – hence no allocated prizemoney effected – for stakeholders in the north.
It will simply mean horses trained in Townsville will have to do the travelling – and that again raises the question of rebates.
It will be interesting to see what Racing Queensland will do with the Tuesday dates.
But the word is that Tuesday could become trotting day for Queensland – except for Melbourne Cup day – of course.
NORTH QUEENSLAND RACING SADDENED BY DEATH OF TRAINER REX FLEMING
PROMINENT North Queensland trainer Rex Fleming passed away suddenly at his stable on Sunday, which has left the close-knit Wulguru racing community deeply saddened.
Rex, a former Tableland mentor, had great success before venturing to Townsville in the late 90s.He trained some very smart horses over the years including Babinda Belle and Babinda Half.
Fleming won the Cleveland Bay in 2001 with Maggee’s Dancer beating the dead-heaters Lord Karioi and hot favourite Hemingway at the ripe odds of 20/1. But the stable had a huge win when Jason Stopps sooled it to the line a comfortable winner and a highlight of the trainer’s long and successful career.
AIDAN HOLT HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON RIDING IN RACES AGAIN
BRISBANE’s best apprentice Aidan Holt has retired from the saddle just one win short of 100 – but he has not given up hope of race riding again.
Holt is hoping to shed enough weight to ride over the summer months.
Meanwhile, he is back home riding work regularly at Cluden and will soon take up a position with Sunshine Coast trainer Caitlin Lavin who has a small team in regular training at Caloundra.
Aidan has retained his fitness and is eager to get back into competition.
In less than two years he has out-ridden his country claim (still 2kg in Brisbane) and is hailed as the best since Michael Rodd. Amazingly he can boast a 20% win rate in Brisbane.
On Wednesday he was in demand at the barrier trials where the ruling Townsville Cup favourite Ladrotto was one of his rides in a searching 850m test.
PEMBERTON STILL HAD ENOUGH POINTS TO WIN UP AND COMING STAYERS SERIES
THE George Doolan-trained Pemberton was a non-starter in the final of the Magic Millions-sponsored Up and Coming Stayers at Cairns on Saturday.
But he still won the series with enough points accumulated from earlier heats.
Old George was tickled pink – just as happy in fact as the connections of Saturday’s final winner and favourite Zigurat.
THE NUMBER OF BOOKIES FIELD AT GRAFTON CARNIVAL HAS DECLINED SHARPLY
THIRTY years ago there would have been 150 bookies catering for the huge hoard of punters at the Grafton Carnival on Ramornie Day. Last Thursday there was a mere 15.
Equate that to the deal that Tatts and Racing Queensland have finalised that has a 30 year span.
What will be the betting landscape be in 30 years?
No one could have imagined Grafton would have slipped from 150 on course bookies to 15 in that 30 year period.
There are some who firmly believe there is only one option – band the corporates altogether and work towards a national tote or betting system.
Only last week (this column can accurately report) three recently opened accounts were cancelled when the account holder backed a greyhound that ran third. Can you believe?
The corporates bet who they like and refuse to take bets from punters who they think might have an edge.
Corporates want only the mugs and the uninformed betting with them.
And while fair dinkum on-course bookies are forced to accept a $1000 liability – the corporates can just simply refuse and get away with it.
That MUST stop.
And who was the bloke from a big overseas operator boasting last week that there was a $15mn budget for promotion and advertising.
“And they won't even give you a decent bet,” said the disgruntled punter whose account was closed even before he had backed a winner.
They are cane toads on the industry. Not needed, not welcome.
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.
