IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, looks ahead to a gloomy New Year for the racing industry in Queensland.
He also writes of drainage problems that should never have happened on the new Townsville track and are being addressed in Cairns.
Here is the Butts’ column:
LITTLE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN NEW YEAR FOR RACING FOLK IN QUEENSLAND
AND a very healthy and happy New Year to you too!
But for racing folk there is little to look forward to.
The many stakeholders of racing in this State face 2016 with great trepidation.
In spite of unconvincing assurances from Government and the unlikely new Minister Grace Grace, there is considerable and justifiable concern about the future for Racing Queensland, which is quite frankly, the laughing stock of the nation.
A super-tanker at sea without a rudder.
While NSW and Victoria boast record betting turnovers and announce massive increases to prizemoney, Queensland is the lone duck – sulking over diminished turnover, racecourse attendances and threatening more cuts to prizemoney.
It is quite obvious UBET, the main source of revenue for racing has not kept pace with the ever changing off-course gambling landscape. It is a diabolical situation and many believe a takeover by the NSW-Victoria TABs is the only hope.
And a new RQ Board? Well, we won’t even go there.
What Board? You may well ask.
MORE GLOOM FOR TOWNSVILLE WITH DRAINAGE ISSUES ON NEW TRACK
CLOSER to home there is even more gloom for the embattled Townsville Turf Club committee.
It has its brand spanking new track – lauded as the best in Queensland – but there are some dreadful hangovers from the $7 million project that need to be addressed.
Inexplicably, RQ signed off on the deal BEFORE the drainage issues were completed. The result is that after 200ml of rain a few weeks ago, part of the training track virtually collapsed, the new parade ring was under a foot of water and access to the racecourse and to the training track was closed.
Despite the plea from TTC hierarchy, Racing Queensland simply signed off before a final inspection. ‘Idiots’ is one word that many are using to describe those responsible.
And the TTC is still awaiting final word from the bumbling brigade who occupy desks at RQ headquarters.
DRAINAGE PROBLEMS STILL ON THE AGENDA FOR CANNON PARK IN CAIRNS
FURTHER north, the drainage question is still on the agenda at Cannon Park.
The Cairns Jockey Club is under a new-look committee that includes long-time northern stalwart Tom Hedley, and the track is undergoing yet another course proper drainage project from the1300m to 300m.
It will take several weeks to complete, and the race meeting on February 6 has already been relocated to Atherton.
The CJC has bravely undertaken to fund the $50,000 project – with the intention of applying retrospectively for funding.
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..
