THE WEDNESDAY WHINGE is back for another year and has a new look but we won’t be dispensing with our theme and focus on the THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY side of what is happening in racing. The Whinge will continue to provide an opportunity for The Cynics to Have Their Say. Thanks again for your support for the most read column on this website and one of the most read on racing websites in the country. Our popularity continues to grow despite the bagging it cops from some high profile officials, especially in Queensland, who cannot cope with constructive criticism of any kind. We encourage supporters – and critics – to continue to contribute but plan to restrict the Whinge to less than a dozen items each week. Our message to those who continually bag us is simple: IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU READ THEN DON’T REVISIT THE WHINGE.
FORMER RQ CHAIRMAN CHALLENGES KEVIN DIXON ON CLAIM THAT HE IS ‘A-POLITICAL’ 
BOB BENTLEY, the former RQ Chairman, has again contributed to the Wednesday Whinge and we welcome his opinion. KEVIN DIXON was offered right of reply and not surprisingly we did not receive a response:
‘I could hardly believe the hypocrisy displayed during the controlled and self promoting interview on 4TAB last week with Kevin Dixon being interviewed by David Fowler.
The comment that had me reeling was the statement by Kevin Dixon that he was ‘a-political’. Who is he trying to fool this time?
Kevin Dixon was the chief instigator and urger who, in my opinion, misrepresented the facts to the LNP Government in 2012 that brought on a Racing Inquiry .
Let us look at the actual performance and actions of this self confessed a-political administrator and judge this on fact not spin.
On the 24th of April 2012 following a letter from Contour Engineering advising that they had not received $158 million from RQL and had not received $20 million from the Labor Government, Deloitte's, the respected accounting partnership conducting the audit, advised that they would be amending their report to confirm that the above figures and accusations in their report were not correct.
Following receipt of the intended amendment Kevin Dixon emailed Adam Carter CFO of Racing Queensland and copied Deloitte's on the 24th April 2012 instructing them not to alter the original report ‘otherwise I will need to report to Government separately on Deloitte's unwillingness to deal with these issues’. Not a bad go for this so-called a-political official. The corporate governance of these actions is another issue.
Adding to the cloak and dagger action of the above, Deloitte's were instructed by Dixon not to interview the former executive staff. A reasonable person would assume that the first port of call in an audit of this nature would be the staff who were actually involved. Not so in this case, Dixon ordered Deloitte's not to interview the former staff who could have given the correct answers to any questions. This would be normal procedure and afford procedural fairness. This is confirmed in the Deloitte's report under executive summary 1.1.
The significance of this was that it suited the LNP and Dixon to bandy around these big numbers and subsequently the LNP used these numbers in a Government media release calling for a Commission of Inquiry. The LNP listened to Dixon, set up a Commission of Inquiry and set off on a wild duck hunt.
The calling of the inquiry saw three former respecter Labor ministers required to appear and be grilled by James Bell SC, counsel assisting the inquiry. This is all the work of good old a-political Kevin Dixon.
Kevin Dixon has never been called to account for his actions, or given an explanation as to why he chose this course of action. To date the LNP considers he is a protected species.
Actions tell volumes as to where Dixon's political loyalty rests.’
‘ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH A CHANGE OF GOVT MY PHONE HAS LIT UP LIKE A XMAS TREE’ 
A PROMINENT FIGURE IN THE INDUSTRY IN QUEENSLAND sent this email but for obvious reasons prefers to remain anonymous – at this stage:
‘OVER the years I have had strong ties with the Labor Party in racing. When the LNP won Government in a landslide at the previous election my telephone suddenly went silent.
Not surprisingly I have been inundated with calls from racing participants since the recent election. I noted with interest the email from former RQ Chairman Bob Bentley in last week’s Whinge. I’ll bet there has been no response to that from RQ. But that’s racing and politics in Queensland.
Interestingly, although some of those making contact were simply preserving their positions should a change of Government occur, I have been astounded at the number of participants who have contacted me to raise their legitimate concerns regarding the performance of the current RQ administration, led by Kevin Dixon and Darren Condon.
As I don’t have the time to outline all the concerns, I have listed a few below that highlight the perceived shortcomings of the aforementioned duo.
EAGLE FARM is undoubtedly Queensland’s most preferred racing venue by the punters and stakeholders. From the feedback I have received the industry cannot believe that the current RQ hierarchy did not have all relevant financial approvals in place before ripping up the course proper. Remember that the last meeting at Eagle Farm was on 20 August, nearly six months ago, and we understand that the LNP Government still hadn’t approved the funding required to complete the project at election time and that it could be October before the track is completed.
This, in the opinion of many in racing, is financial mismanagement. A simple question is: Why wasn’t the funding approved before construction activities commenced? As a sign that Dixon and Condon have learnt nothing from their mistakes, I understand that the track in Townsville has been closed, and that funding approval is still in limbo. Let’s hope for the North Queensland stakeholders’ sake that they don’t suffer the same delays experienced at Eagle Farm. Also a number of North Queensland stakeholders are questioning why Mackay wasn’t used during the closure of Townsville. Some within the industry are saying that RQ won’t utilize this venue to its full capacity because they don’t want to highlight its outstanding capabilities, which were scoped and constructed by the previous regime.
TOOWOOMBA – in the opinion of many, myself included – has been an unmitigated disaster for the team of Kevin Dixon, Darren Condon, Wade Birch and WarrenWilliams, aided and abetted by their good mate Bob Frappell (the TTC Chairman). How could anyone with good knowledge of racing take the decision to install an 18m wide grass track at a venue that races 55 times a year? This venue is the laughing stock of the Australian racing industry, with people questioning the $7 million-plus expenditure which results in eight starters per race when the rail is at four metres and a track that has reportedly lost more race meetings than any other in Australia. Great investment Kevin, I do recall your buddy, Minister Dickson, stating that this was his crowning achievement. What a goose!
CRONULLA PARK – the new greyhound facility: I understand that the greyhound community cannot believe that they aren’t racing at a new venue after three years of the new RQ administration. The greyhound industry continues to grow, yet I have been informed that they are not being catered for and more and more greyhounds are unable to obtain a start each week. The greyhound industry is a shining light in the three codes of racing in Queensland but continues to be treated like second class citizens. When will they realize the potential of the industry and its dire need for new facilities for racing and training?
CONSULTATION and COMMUNICATION: Despite what you read or hear in the mainstream racing media, most in the industry are appalled at the lack of consultation undertaken by Kevin Dixon and his team not to mention the lack of communication on key issues. My feedback is that only a few close to the Chairman and CEO are consulted and communicated within on key issues and that this even extends to the Board who often become aware of decisions via Nathan Exelby in The Courier-Mail.
Despite what you read within the propaganda distributed via their mates in the racing media, there are plenty of far from satisfied participants in all three codes.
It is my understanding that whilst there is a reluctance to speak out until Labor has seized the reins as they understand the perceived vindictive nature of the current regime, there will be plenty spilling the beans once Government is formed.
And one thing’s for sure – no-one is wearing the desperate efforts of the Chairman to cling to power with his claim on radio last week that he is ‘apolitical’. That will have to go down with the ‘furlong in front’ statement by the Racing Minister as one of the industry bloopers of the decade.’
PREPARING FOR A NEW SEASON OF DAYS OF OUR LIVES AT RACING QUEENSLAND 
FOR a lighthearted break to the Whinge we decided to run this little ditty sent by ‘WILD OSCAR’ from HENDRA which you must appreciate has been written very much tongue-in-cheek:
‘IF Batman and Robin from the bush decide to run with third time unlucky Laurie the Loser does that mean Little King Kev will become less a-political and come off the bench again as a tag team-mate for Tim the Toolman and Furlong in Front Steve.
For Pete’s sake give us an independent with some balls to hold the balance of power and give the LNP a good Wellington Boot.
And if – or when – the Good Judge fits the crown (it will need to be shrunk considerably from Can Do’s big head) to new Queen Annastacia will someone please tell the Daily Planet to stop their bleating over the result and inform their record readership (that’s the one you get when you have no competition) that the election war is over?
Then Labor – minority or otherwise – can get on with the business of running Queensland. Laurie the Loser can decide whether he wants to be Opposition Leader or if that is a bit of a come down from Premier-elect. Either way he’d be better off joining Jeff the Goose on the back-benches.
And on the thoroughbred front a whole herd of fence jumpers down Deagon way can change the color of their political shirts from blue back to red again. Labor can find another would-be Racing Minister to replace Furlong in Front Steve who can also end his crusade for a new faction to lead the LNP – the batteries on Tim the Toolman’s remote control must need replacing.
Little King Kev, as A-political as we all know he is, can start looking for some B grade spot at the BRC or wherever (perhaps his good mate Cowboy Bob can find him a job on the Downs) while Big Bill can return from the dead and decide whether to push for a return from oblivion of Bob the Builder or to endorse his old mate Clergyman Jim to find another gold-mine to plunder, adding to the one that our higher water bills have already helped him create.
And Filthy Phil and Johnny Rotten will no doubt wait and see which Spin Doctor gets the exclusives (Nathan Nobody, Dave the Chook Plucker or Paceway Pete) before deciding which ship their website will dock at for the next season of Day of Our Lives at Racing Queensland.’
‘IF THIS SCRIBE HAS A HEADS-UP ON WHAT’S HAPPENING HOW ABOUT SOME LABOR RACING POLICY?’ 
BARNEY TIMMS of BRISBANE writes:
‘PETER Cameron of The Sunday Mail seems to have a ‘heads up’ on the racing policy of the Labor Party that the rest of us would love to read.
If I interpreted the item in his column this week, Cameron questions the future of RQ Chairman Kevin Dixon under a Labor Government. Well, that probably goes without saying considering the politics that saw the Bob Bentley Board exit the scene when the LNP was swept to power.
What was more interesting was the Cameron suggestion that a new Advisory Council would be established to oversee thoroughbreds in Queensland with RQ to be led by an independent chairman. Weren’t we led to believe when Kevin Dixon took over as Chairman of the All Codes Board that he was ‘deemed to be independent’? Yeah sure!
What concerned me more was the suggestion that Doomben could be on a slippery footing once the Eagle Farm redevelopment is completed. I thought there was legislated protection against Doomben being sold or at least that the merged Brisbane Race Club entity gave an assurance that the track would never be closed.
It’s all very interesting and despite the fact the election result remains in limbo – and probably will depending on the outcome of a Ferny Grove by-election if that is deemed necessary – it’s time for the Labor Party to declare where they stand on racing.’
LABOR NEEDS TO CLARIFY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN RACING IN QLD IF THEY CLAIM GOVERNMENT 
BOB PURCELL of GOLD COAST writes:
‘THERE are some many rumors doing the rounds about the future of racing under a Labor Government that there needs to be some clarification.
If you listen to ‘those’ who are supposed to know – or even read one leading racing scribe in a column in a major newspaper – Kevin Dixon is on the ropes at RQ Chairman; there will be an Advisory Board appointed to oversee the decision making process for the thoroughbreds; a cloud over the future of Doomben could see the sale of that venue; that racing will be tied to Treasury in a new Labor Cabinet; that Cronulla Park is ‘dead in the water’ for the greyhounds; and that infrastructure plans for a new-look Albion Park harness venue just won’t happen. And that’s before you listen to supposed plans for a new wave of race dates and prizemoney which won’t advantage clubs like Kilcoy and Toowoomba.
It’s all a bit too much for a racing stakeholder. Too many are already anxious enough about the future. Racing needs are the same as that of Queensland – stability. A Labor minority to govern doesn’t give them the right to make mass changes anywhere, not to mention racing.
On the plus side Kevin Dixon and his Board have delivered a new TAB deal, albeit over 30 years, major increases in prizemoney, with some dissention from the north and much-needed infrastructure projects at many tracks, although some say they have still missed out.
On the minus side the new hierarchy has been accused of favoritism to ‘politically friendly’ clubs, especially Toowoomba; failing to provide information on the ‘special deal’ with Gerry Harvey and Magic Millions; steeping too many decisions in secrecy and not being prepared to listen to constructive criticism.
You might notice I haven’t mentioned a favorite hobby horse of the websites and that is the ‘bans’ imposed on them by RQ because of criticism and columns like the Wednesday Whinge, which I am using now.
Whilst I don’t agree with the way racing has been run, the Minister Steve Dickson appears to have been remote controlled by the Treasurer and RQ Chairman and the new Courier-Mail racing editor seems to be working by remote control from the old, now comfortably domiciled in a new well paid pad at the BRC.
The fact remains that no-one in racing really cares about the media. They know what to expect – have done so for years – in the one-eyed biased coverage from the CM on all things in racing and politics (even now the major daily doesn’t seem to be able to comprehend the massive loss to the LNP in the election).
As for the websites, well guys you reap what you sew. If you want to continue to allow criticism of officials like Kevin Dixon and organizations like RQ, then you have to expect them to react the only way they can and shut you out of ‘exclusives’ by diverting coverage to their ‘mates’ in the media.
That’s racing, that’s life, while they are running the show. The same can’t be said for a new Labor minority Government. It needs to be more ‘open’ with the industry.’
LAST THING EXPECTED TO FRIGHTEN PUNTERS AWAY FROM BRISBANE WAS STATE OF TRACKS 
STU LOCKWOOD of BRISBANE sent this email:
‘IN all my years of punting on Brisbane racing the last thing I expected to frighten me away was the state of the tracks.
But it has reached that stage. I can no longer tolerate the situation with Doomben and I refuse to believe – that apart from a few exceptions – the supposed bias can be put down to sizzling on-pace sectionals.
As I said to a long-time punting mate of mine the other day – very much tongue-in cheek – it’s about time the stewards conducted a running and handling inquiry into the Doomben track and asked RQ or the Brisbane Racing Club to please explain why every horse doesn’t get the chance to run on its merits.
His reply probably summed up the state of racing in Queensland where integrity is concerned. ‘They rarely hold running and handling inquiries so why would this be any different?’
Integrity issues aside, I am told that trainers decide the fate of their horses – especially those that have no early speed – when the barrier draws are released. If they draw out wide most consign their chances to the scrap heap, unless it is one of those rare days when Doomben plays fairly.
Racing has to be a level playing field and every owner, trainer, jockey and horse is entitled to go into a race believing they have an equal chance of winning. That isn’t the case in Queensland at present.
Then again the racing public can’t even get the names of those stables that were swabbed in the search for cobalt positives, let alone the ones that returned irregularities. How do we know that it’s a level playing field unless we know that it was a general cross section of the training population, not just a chosen few? And they can’t use as an excuse that stables aren’t entitled to bad publicity if those swabs did not return a positive. It is not good enough and just in keeping with the secret society that racing in Queensland has become under the Kevin Dixon control.
I see where his good mate Nathan Exelby, from The Courier-Mail says there was nothing wrong with the Doomben track and that the critics fired their shots too early on Saturday when those races were sectional related.
You’re entitled to that opinion Nathan but I don’t agree. No horse came from further back than seventh on the home turn to win which suggests to me the back-markers didn’t have every chance.
Regardless of which of us is right, it’s not a good look for Doomben heading to the winter carnival when Stradbroke contenders that already face the prospect of a shorter Group 1 moving the race from Eagle Farm, there is also the real prospect that it won’t be won by a back-marker.’
‘WHEN WILL GREYHOUND INDUSTRY BE INFORMED OF RQ SECRET AGENDA FOR NEW TRACK?’ 
TROY BROWN of ORMEAU, another concerned about the safety of the new greyhound facility planned for Cronulla Park, sent this email:
‘I read with interest the contribution from Bill Johnson of Cudgen last Wednesday concerning the state of affairs in greyhound racing in Queensland and I am deeply disturbed.
It appears both political parties once in Government have great difficulty in mirroring principals of transparency and communication seemingly taking forever (six years) to determine if the mythical track has disappeared into the land of Puff the Magic Dragon.
In the meantime the litany of perceived untruths from the industry Pinocchio’s seems to be growing.
Let us refer to the letter written and signed by Councillor Lutton, I am told he has been a long term ALP Councillor and should be familiar with the Local Government Act. All Correspondence sent to the public should contain the committee name and minute page as recorded in Council General Meeting Minutes and signed by the CEO of the Council when responding to the public.
Is this a cover-up letter written to the President of UQGA on a verbal request for a purpose? I made a call to the Logan Council Mayor’s Office following the posting and asked to speak to the Mayor Mrs P Parker: I was asked what was my subject of conversation, when I responded “The Greyhound Complex at Cronulla Park” I was directed to talk to Councillor Russell Lutton, that makes me think he is the fall guy for the project.
Lord Mayor Councillor Parker my question to you is?
1. Is this old contaminated tip site Cronulla Park capped with clay? Yes/No
2. If this tip site is capped please provide the date, minute page approval of Council:
3. Please provide the Contractor who received the job from Council:
4. What Tender price to complete the Job was provided to Council:
I don’t expect you to answer these questions as my research provides me with the answers. It is not capped. It is full of Asbestos and relative building materials, not just domestic waste as stated by Councillor Lutton. It also accepted sanitary waste my informant advised me. From observations it is currently leaking leachate into nearby Slacks Creek, further evidence it is not capped, yet my informant told me Council did get a price to do the work at $1.2 million in the early 2000s, but decided against it.
The latest news to come out of the bunker at Racing Queensland is they are having a competition to name this invisible Racing Complex at Cronulla Park. Well Mr Dixon it appears you can’t remember you have already had a competition for a name and you came up with Underwood Park.
Apparently it was not what you wanted so here we go again. With respect I might suggest the following names:
1. NEVER NEVER LAND
2. ASBESTOS PARK
3. CANCER PARK
With ‘CANCER PARK’ reflecting the most appropriate state of this old contaminated tip site the Government, Council, and Racing Queensland seem hell-bent on gifting the dangerous problems contained on the poor old greyhound industry. I won’t be holding my breath waiting for an answer as I might be dead from cancer spores before I get lucky.’
MESSARA COMMENTS ABOUT SYDNEY FIELDS SHOW ‘CONTEMPT FOR RACING PUBLIC’ 
PERCY SMITH of MELBOURNE writes:
‘THE big chief of the ARB and Racing NSW, John Messara, again showed his contempt for the intelligence of the Australian racing public with an unbelievable suggestion last week.
Messara, one of the most powerful breeders in the country, claims the reason why the fields in Sydney are so bad almost every week is the smaller crop of foals in NSW.
Is he dreaming or kidding or does he think the racing public is just plain dumb?
As Terry Butts so rightly pointed out in his ‘Silks & Saddles’ column this week: ‘Why then is Melbourne attracting huge fields in city, provincial and country venues? Are we to believe that there are more foals born in tiny Victoria?’
Butts also makes a valid point when he suggests: “Surely Mr Messara doesn’t have to be told that spending a totally obscene $18mn on prize money in two race days for what has been titled ‘The Championships’ will not help or relieve the situation. It is all to do with Messara’s elitist brand of racing. The NSW Government backed The Championships have been described as a totally unnecessary extravagance. These are being staged with scant regard to the current state of racing nationwide – where it is said the majority of trainers are eating the dates off the calendar.”
Of course sitting alongside of Messara at the ARB table and the anointed one to take his place as Chairman is Little King Kev Dixon from Queensland, also a former breeder. One might ask why between the pair of them they cannon reveal from which major stud the yearling was sold at the Magic Millions sale that returned a positive swab and how all steps have been taken to avoid embarrassment for the breeding industry and of course their mate who runs the sales group and is benefitting by millions of dollars from RQ coffers under a new deal recently negotiated.’
‘ARE THE RIGHT STABLES BEING TARGETTED FOR COBALT BY ‘HIT SQUAD’ AT RQ? 
THIS EMAIL WAS SENT BY A PROMINENT TRAINER who wishes to remain anonymous for obvious reasons:
‘SOME interesting things are happening behind the scenes whilst the industry waits on RQ to announce ‘racing’s biggest losers’ in the Cobalt swab drama in the north.
The ‘Keystone Cops’ – as some have labelled the Integrity Hit Squad – seem hell-bent on claiming the scalp of one trainer on the Sunshine Coast whose recent run of success seems to have got up their noses.
Not only did they raid his stables recently but I am told then followed him as he drove to Brisbane and then pulled him over before he reached a south-east Queensland TAB meeting and searched his float and car.
While all this is going on – without success I might add – one of the suspected real culprits of the Cobalt distribution isn’t losing any sleep (or so he is telling anyone who wants to listen) at his training base further out of Brisbane.
There is a growing need for RQ to assure a disbelieving industry that the search for the real Cobalt ‘bandits’ is a level playing field and that not just a few are being sorted out for special attention.
It’s easy enough to list those who have had swabs taken (no bad publicity for them if it is then noted that the swabs returned negative). Until that happens the rumours will continue that only selected stables are being targeted – a claim that needs to be addressed by RQ.
There are also reports that a big race winner on Magic Millions day returned an irregularity and I am assured it wasn’t the winner of the Two-Year-Old. Again, a lack of information from RQ is causing too much innuendo in the industry.
It’s time for this secret society and release of information to a selected few in the media comes to an end – and I am assured that will happen if Labor claims Government and changes the way the Dixon Board operates.’
CONCERNS ABOUT INDUSTRY IN QUEENSLAND CANNOT SECURE RESPONSE FROM CONTROL BODY 
FROM time to time, JOHN the FIREMAN, a passionate follower of racing in Queensland, offers his observations on the state of play in the industry. Here is his latest contribution:
‘I have continued to watch/read your website and anything Racing Queensland put out. I still get the standard automated reply to my emails sent to RQ with no response/follow up.
My views still remain that Queensland Racing is still only treading water and political cycles and whatever Government party is in power shouldn’t be influencing the right long term structure for Queensland racing.
That said will we ever see egos put aside and the right people in place in a system with consultation processes for all industry participants to have a fair say that leads to sound decision making from these Boards etc?
We have previous reports (at a cost) that had recommendations that appear to have not gone through any process of discussion and thus documentation released for the industry to see what was discussed and thoughts on the pluses and minuses of the points raised in these reports.
Examples
133 tracks not viable.
Viable infrastructure (meets today’s needs and lower crowd numbers/remember when Black Caviar was in Brisbane 25,000 attended and how many watched her on TV at pubs/clubs/home). A message here I would think.
Infrastructure, where possible, that lends itself to multipurpose and can create extra income streams.
An audit is needed of ALL racetracks to determine their viability and infrastructure and issues that need attention.
Savings that can be made in better procurement/contract processes by taking a holistic view to things.
Where/What is the viable model for this state’s racing industry and the year by year plan that leads us to the end goal/product?
Issues/comments.
I understand that the TAB deal is done but what a lost opportunity. Look at TAB advertising/ no bricks & mortar, people betting on mobile phones & in pub tabs. It’s our product and we should be getting a cut out of everything, simple as that. One national TAB would be great for the punter.
Race track issues with Eagle Farm and Toowoomba remain and should be an embarrassment to the power brokers especially the mess that this has left with training facilities/jump-outs/trials and race programming.
Tracks & facilities for Harness and Greyhounds still remain in limbo and have become a joke.
Prize-money increases were welcomed and overdue but there is a long way to go yet. (As a mate of mine said – he won a Rocklea Cup 20 years ago and received $2,000 for the win. Meetings now are only racing for that). I would like to see the long term/year by year goals/program for Metro/provincial /country – TAB and non TAB.
RQ can find prize-money to increase Carnival races but really did it need to be so much when you have North Queensland and provincial/country racing in need of increases?
There still appears to be a lot of smoke and mirrors around RQ and more questions than answers provided.
We have increased prize-money – yet no racing Monday and Tuesday (less meetings).
They were forced to close the new Toowoomba track for repairs and race elsewhere yet to win at Toowoomba it is worth $9,100 but at other venues only $6500 to win.
Any improvement is welcomed with QTIS but what does every two-year-old race mean? What level is QTIS money for Metro/Provincial/Country?
Under current QTIS where does money go when a race doesn’t stand up, which has happened quite a bit with the current crop of three-year-olds? Is that race reprogrammed?
I find the programming hard to follow particularly if you have a QTIS horse that wins races you basically seem to have to go to Metro as there are no open 3YO provincials on regularly. Plenty of maidens which I can understand until the new year of 3YOs but surely the last six months of the QTIS year there should be a better mix at all tracks of maiden and open/benchmark 3YOs.
I obviously race QTIS horses as I believe that is your only hope currently of supporting the industry and getting a chance of a return.
I would like to see more support for Country/Non Tab racing from RQ. I would like to see it looked at separately as it needs to be a different experience (form a country committee) and thus maybe new ideas can be put forward to make it a unique experience in the North and SE Queensland. We need people to go to racetrack, so organize a bus deal with the help of RQ and consultation with clubs. Perhaps there could be a better deal if a person buys tickets for multiple race meetings and a group deal on different numbers. More should be cheaper. Clubs may be able to add a deal – food/etc to bus groups. I still remember the old Esk nurse race days having great numbers. RQ has promotion people and I’m sure if they could get the recipe right people would go to country racing or at least give it a go.
Needs are basic.
An out year’s plan is needed from RQ showing how the stepping stones are going to lead us to the long term goal of a racing model that delivers RQ the best model for the Queensland industry.
The number of tracks reviewed for thoroughbred racing that deliver a viable five day a week racing product (TAB/non TAB) for industry and racing public wanting to support by betting on good field size races and attending racetracks with good facilities. Once numbers are known look after the race and training surfaces. Horse and rider safety should be essential. Integrity needs to be beyond approach.
An infrastructure plan for ALL codes with a realistic approach taken to what is needed for today’s racetracks and possible other income stream and multipurpose facilities. The primary focus should be the product first.
We have to accept that the old days are gone and realize that there are now many more attractions for peoples’ disposable income.
Food for thought I would think.
But things have to become clearer with the direction racing in Queensland is heading and yes some sound hard decisions from good passionate/knowledgeable people in positions of power will have to be made.
This is fine as long as they are made to create a better industry for ALL. There are plenty of models in the world, look at New Zealand were changes were made, clubs/racetracks were closed through amalgamation so racing stayed alive.
I remain with minimal interest as I love having a couple of QTIS horses with likeminded people in my syndicates.’
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the above e-mails should not be interpreted as those of JOHN LINGARD, the owner-editor of the letsgohorseracing web-site. That is why he has added an ‘EDITOR’S NOTE’. Every endeavor is made to verify the authenticity of contributors. We welcome any reasonable and constructive responses from parties or individuals.
