IN his widely read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS warns of  a proposed commercial development that threatens the viability of Cluden as the major racing venue in North Queensland.

He also reports on the great run of success being enjoyed by a Mackay trainer; the back-flip on race dates for Caloundra and calls for Bowen to be given a non-TAB meeting on a Sunday to compensate for the proposed Easter Sunday fixture that has rightly not been proceeded with.

Here is the Butts column:

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL THRATENS VIABILITY OF CLUDEN

IT IS not the hotly debated issue of race dates that currently worries the Townsville Turf Club. It is a potentially damning proposal to establish a commercial development including Truck Stop on the Bruce Highway less than a kilometre from Cluden Park that threatens the very viability of the century old race club.

According a reliable club source the proposal, if successful, will have horrendous impact on Cluden, the recognized hub of racing in northern Queensland.

Behind this proposal that includes a truck stop on vacant land on the incoming section of the highway near the Cluden rail crossing are some of the highest profile developers in the city.

It is apparently one of three truck stop proposals in the area. One is said to be planned for the Port Access Road junction and another on vacant land near the meat works.

But the development that concerns the Turf Club most is the one on the Cluden Park side of the highway and within a kilometre of the well-established BP Truck Stop, rated one of the busiest in the country.

 

IF MAIN ROADS ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL IT WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC CHAOS FOR RACING

ACCORDING to the Townsville Turf Club, this proposal which is already before Main Roads will completely terminate the current club entrance for floats, officials and licensees.

If it goes ahead, all cars, licensees, buses, taxis and floats will be forced to use just the one entrance off the highway that will obviously cause disruption and considerable chaos on busy days.

Worse, commuters and trainers from Cluden, for years a recognized racing stable suburb, will be forced to make their way into the racecourse by travelling most of the way in the opposite direction, turning left at the lights and travelling south to the Port Access Road, where a yet to be constructed roundabout will be negotiated for them to go back down the highway to the racecourse.

It is THAT crazy!

 

TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB HAS NO INPUT INTO PLANS THAT WILL AFFECT RACETRACK

MY sources say that a meeting called last week by a local lawyer representing developers was attended by Main Roads and Fairfield Waters executives.

The Townsville Turf did not even get an invite where it is alleged three proposals were discussed about  major road works needed to complement the Truck Stop, as well as the commercial development opposite the racecourse, an extension of Fairfield Waters  that the TTC believes would also have a serious impact.

Next day TTC  Chairman Kevin O’Keefe and CEO Michael Charge met with a Main Roads ‘consultant’ and were shown two of the three proposals.

The TTC admits to having grave concerns and has decided to wait until the return from overseas this week of Club lawyer Barry Taylor before deciding what steps to take next.

“If they (the developers) get away with this we are in deep trouble,” said the TTC Chair.

“We won’t have to worry about race dates. There won’t be any,” he quipped.

And then there is the question of Cluden residents.

 Do they know about this proposal? Will they sit back and let it happen?

Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?

REMARKABLE WINNING STREAK CONTINUE AT MACKAY FOR SYMONS

MACKAY trainer Darren Symons continued a remarkable winning streak on his home track at the weekend when he saddled up the last four winners.

It was hardly a meeting deserving of TAB status, but to prepare four winners is no mean feat. And he did the same thing last month.

In fact Symons, with just 14 horses in training, has won 11 races at the past three Mackay meetings.

With the departure of Stuart Kendrick to Caloundra, Symons is now long odds- on for the trainers’ premiership this season, but he holds great fears for the future of his club.

“It is going backwards under this committee. I really don’t know where it is going to end,” he said.

There are eight vacancies on the MTC committee and of the four remaining only one, Lou Kinsey, has an interest in a racehorse in work at Ooralea.

 

SYMONS CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE OF MACKAY SENDS HORSES SOUTH

WHILE Kendrick  with a large  string of horses is in the midst of packing up for greener pastures, Symons too is sending four of his recent winners south for a campaign in Brisbane.

One of them is the highly promising Little Favourites, a brilliant winner on Saturday, her second success in three starts.

“She ran the 800m in 45secs and the last 600 in 32secs,” said the trainer who is confident she can win in three-year-old fillies’ class in the city.

Symons is a latecomer to the training ranks. His father is the former cane farmer and ferocious punter known around Australia simply as ‘Bulldog.’

Darren began life as a Queensland Police officer but switched to real estate just in time for the mining boom a few years back.

He then decided to invest in racehorses and took out a trainer’s license. His stats are quite remarkable.

 

GOOD TO SEE BACK-FLIP ON CALOUNDRA BUT BOWEN DESERVES A NON TAB SUNDAY 

WHAT about the about face on Caloundra race dates?

Racing Queensland has been returned 17 of their Sunday dates they were set to lose under the initial proposal, and you might wonder why the sudden change of attitude.

Firstly the SCTC got a  lot of sympathy after an exceptionally well-constructed letter was forwarded to all Queensland clubs that outlined the illogical, if not farcical, situation that they were to be confronted by. Fortunately that was resolved before RQ signed off on the new dates.

While on that, this column has been questioned about comments made last week about Bowen getting a stand-alone Easter Sunday date next year.

There was no problem with Bowen getting a Sunday date – it should be welcomed by everyone in the game – but a stand-alone Sunday at the expense of Caloundra was just stupid.

Well in the end commonsense prevailed and Caloundra got back their Sunday date.

Bowen, it appears missed out.

But why can’t Bowen race on the same day – even as a non TAB?

Why not? That would make pefect sense!

 

LAST GIFT TO TAKE ON BLACK CAVIAR IN LIGHTING AT CUALFIELD

FORMER smart Townsville sprinter Last Gift has gone straight to the Penthouse!

His new owners have decided (at this stage anyway) to take on the mighty mare Black Caviar in Saturday's Lightning Handicap at Caulfield.

Last Gift, winner of the Lightning at the other end of the country (Cairns) last year, was sold recently to clients of Melbourne trainer Les Theodore for a reputed $150,000.

His former trainer and part owner, Townsville based Jim Fogarty said he ‘couldn't resist the offer.’

 

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.