IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, makes a call on behalf of thoroughbred racing and greyhound racing for harness racing to start pulling its weight.
Butts highlights the fact that the black hole in the latest RQ figures rests largely at the feet of the ‘red hots’ and suggests they are bludging badly on the other two codes. The answer is obvious – a return to separate of the three entities which apparently the Racing Minister wants but the Government doesn’t.
Here is his column:
HARNESS RACING CAN NO LONGER CONTINUE TO BLUDGE OFF OTHER CODES
ASK anyone involved in the racing industry in Queensland and they will say the three codes system, introduced by Labor in the Bentley era, has been an abject failure.
They believe with some justification that harness is bludging on the other two codes.
Greyhounds are self-funding and its supporters don’t want to be associated. Stakeholders and licensees of the thoroughbred industry think likewise.
There has been a genuine hope that the break-up might happen when the new racing boards are appointed - whenever.
But then Ian Hall, the million dollar man appointed as acting CEO to lift the racing industry from its financial doldrums left by the Kevin Dixon regime, comes out last weekend with a statement ‘that it is pointless to lobby for the separation of the codes’.
Racing people, deeply concerned about the future of their industry, have been left gobsmacked.
Racing, already losing punters, owners and licensees at an alarming rate, has just slipped a little further into the quagmire.
You might question Hall’s right to make such a statement.
Surely that decision should come from the Racing Minister, who we understand, is in favour a separation of the codes – as is everyone except perhaps those who have political influence and financial interests in harness racing.
Trotting is a dead duck in the water, and many believe it survives by bludging on the gallops and the dogs.
HARNESS RACING WAS BIGGEST LOSER IN RQ FIGURES JUST RELEASED
HARNESS was the greatest loser ($7 million of a total of $11 million) last year, according to the RQ figures, released by Hall.
Yet this highly-paid accountant-cum-acting CEO has been flitting around the state’s race tracks urging cutbacks, and hinting of prizemoney reductions and dramatic changes to the racing calendar.
Oh, and at the same time, he has been busy employing more staff – yes more – at RQ, according to our spies in the Deagon bunker.
The CEO admits he has no racing background nor does a lot of the key staff sitting behind desks at RQ headquarters – where they make decisions that affect the livelihoods of hundreds.
In fact, one senior official is on record as stating boldly to a prominent racing figure that ‘he doesn’t know anything about racing – and that he doesn’t have to’.
Good one!
And, with that mind-set in place, you might now start wondering about the make-up of the new Boards, tipped to be announced next month. Heaven help us.
HIGHLY PAID INTERIM CEO SHOULD BE FINDING AWAY OUT OF THE MESS
INTERIM CEO Hall should be doing what he knows best: Recommending a way to get the industry back on track (pardon the pun). He surely knows where he can save an immediate $7 million.
Instead he talks about ‘cross- subsidisation’ - when he should be saying - shape up or ship out.
And he also talks about a possible increase in fees for the betting operators for the right to operate on Queensland races.
Good luck with that!
The short answer to a lot of the current troubles would be for the Premier to give more support to her Racing Minister. She could start by relieving him of some of the other portfolios with which he has been burdened. Why not give the man a chance to do what he was appointed to do. Be responsible for racing?
In other words give him more rein because from the outside the Minister appears to be badly boxed-up behind some has-been going nowhere – and some erratic uneducated newcomers.
All he needs is a run.
NATHAN DAY GIVES THE THUMPS UP TO THE NEW TOWNSVILLE TRACK
COMEBACK jockey Nathan Day has ridden all over the world – on all types of tracks.
But on Saturday he claimed the new Townsville Evergreen track was the best by far.
That’s a big wrap from a man who would know what he is talking about. In fact all jockeys gave it the thumbs up.
Graham Kliese, the local veteran who has also ridden on all types of tracks – good and bad – was full of praise. “It’s great to ride on and most of all it feels safe.”
According to the Chief Stipe Sam Woolaston there were no incidents.
“There was no kick-back problem and racing was as smooth as you would expect’’.
Cup day is this Saturday and the club is expecting a mammoth crowd with marquee bookings already at an all-time high.
Nathan Day will be on the local favourite Castle Express which scored a comfortable win in the traditional lead-up, the Magnetic Handicap (formerly J.S.Love Memorial) on Saturday. It was bred by the TTC club chairman Kevin O’Keefe without whom the new track would never have eventuated. That’s a fact.
So too is the fact that O’Keefe, with the virtue of foresight, started to dismantle the old track a week before the last election.
If he had not – do you think this Government would have given the OK and the money to proceed?
Not likely!
And another indisputable fact is that O’Keefe spent as many hours as any contractor on site. He was there from daylight ‘til dark every day.
SKY AND UBET SNUB RICH TOWNSVILLE CUP MEETING ON NEW TRACK
WHILE the Townsville Turf Club is expecting visitors from all over the nation and as far away as Ireland for this year’s Cup, SKY and UBET have declined an invite.
In spite of the club hosting an unprecedented three $100,000 races on the one day, Sky and UBET are too busy – the latter heading to Longreach where a $9,000 Cup is the feature.
UBET’s Chris Raimondi even refused to produce the Express Bet Van that was used in Cairns last week. It by-passed Townsville on its way to Longreach during the week.
“Let’s look forward to having it there next year,” said Raimondi, while at the same time refusing a request from the club to take some of the semaphore signage. They apparently wanted it for no charge.
Now to the Cup and there are 16 nominated with a notable absence of southern horses this year. Only the Ben Currie-trained Honey Toast, the expected topweight, will represent the southern corner.
Much travelled Mt Isa stayer Bolton, to be ridden by Graeme Kliese, will be No 2 with Knowing Me and Richie Rocket from the Manzelmann camp high on the list.
Melbourne jockey Mark Pegus, no stranger to Townsville, will ride the well fancied Handyman Bob in the Cleveland Bay, in which Ladrotto will attempt his second win, having been successful in the race two years ago.
Pegus is yet to take a Cup mount and can be contacted on 0417778238.
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.
