IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports that many in the industry in north and north west of the state don’t expect the Government to fulfill its promise of a representative on the new control Board.

Butts tells how the Queensland Trainers’ Association has turned its back on supporting a representative from the country but says that was not unexpected as that body is not fully representative of the state and should be renamed the Brisbane Trainers’ Association.

He also questions, on behalf of most sections of the industry, the Government support for millions to be spent installing a turf track at Toowoomba when much more has been wasted on the failed cushion venture and there are more important projects throughout the state that require funding.

Here is the Butts column:

NORTH CLINGS GRIMLY TO HOPE OF A REPRESENTATIVE ON NEW RQ BOARD

THE entire racing industry particularly in the areas of the north and north-west of Queensland is facing the New Year with skepticism – yet still clinging grimly to the dangling ropes of hope.

Hoping, for instance, that the new Racing Board to be announced by the Racing Minister will include a voice from the north – though the skeptics are predicting the new Board will be top heavy with members from  the south east corner – chosen not necessarily for their ability either.

That contention was perhaps fueled somewhat by the result of a special meeting of the Queensland Trainers’ Association committee last Thursday that decided to support the applications by the current Chairman and his deputy (Kevin Dixon and Greg Hallam), along with the former Roma Turf Club president Michael Kelly.

However, after due consideration of that decision I believe it should have little or no bearing on the eventual outcome of the Board. It was, after all, simply the QTA’s recommendation to the Minister.

 

THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE NAME OF QTA TO BRISBANE TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION

PERHAPS the Queensland Trainers’ Association, said by a senior member to be ‘fraught with different fractions,’ might follow Racing Queensland – and have a name change.

Brisbane Trainers’ Association would be more apt.

It should be pointed out too, that the Rockhampton Trainers’ Association, with perhaps more members than the QTA, has officially supported another candidate for the advertised positions.

The country racing folk are left to live in hope that Racing Minister Steven Dickson will honor his word that the outcome of the  new Board will be made independent of any political or any other outside influences.

Skeptics will say that’s nigh on impossible in this political climate – but we must take Mr Dickson on his word.

The Minister has made no attempt to say he knows all about the racing game that he was virtually thrown into, for whatever reason, by Premier Campbell Newman. He readily admits that he is not familiar with racing’s many and varied participants.

But he claims to be aware of the injustices and political thuggery that have occurred in the past and has pledged  to give the industry a better go  under his regime.

He went to great pains to tell racing stakeholders in Townsville and Cairns on a whirlwind familiarization trip before Christmas that he could be trusted. And the best applicants would be appointed without fear nor favor.

We are about to find out, and meanwhile only hope.

Yes, the new Racing Minister came across as a bit of a green-horn in the game  and made no excuses for his lack of knowledge.

In other words he was ‘up front’ and that’s a quality that can’t be used freely on many seasoned pollies of today.

 

RACING MINISTER ‘RIDICULED’ OVER DECISION TO SUPPORT TURF TRACK FOR TOOWOOMBA

THAT said, his surprise decision to support a new turf track at Toowoomba is questioned – if not ridiculed by the vast  majority.

Surely any proposal to be spend more money at Clifford Park should be at the bottom of the list of projects that are needed on racetracks all over the State.

Or at least that’s the feeling of everyone outside the Darling Downs and the holy grail – aka as the area south of Gympie.

Let us just recap.

The decision to install a synthetic track at Toowoomba was taken by vote of members. The result has been an abject failure.

A track, once the pride of Bernborough’s birthplace and home of many other stars of the Queensland turf, is now shunned by punters Australia wide.

Sometime in the future the re-turfing of Toowoomba should happen so that great races like the Weetwood will again attract the best sprinters the State can muster.

But if plain and simple fairness dictates Toowoomba shouldn’t get a second bite of the cherry so soon when there is so much more money needed elsewhere, including of course the prizemoney pool.

Frankly there is no case for a new turf track at Toowoomba.

And the Minister must surely know that. Or he has been listening to the wrong people?

 

WORK IS PROGRESSING WELL ON NEW-LOOK RACECOURSE AT CAIRNS

WHILE some politicians might be talking up a new track at Toowoomba, we can happily report that work is progressing handsomely on the new-look racecourse at Cannon Park at Cairns.

Even the most critical of Cairns racing are singing the praises of the Melbourne-based team of experts who have the job of transferring Cannon Park from arguably one of the worst TAB tracks in the State to hopefully one of the best.

“They are doing an amazing job,” said one.

It has been a long time coming and is still far from finished.

Racing won’t recommence until at least May, depending on the ‘wet.’

But it will be well and truly ready for the Winter Carnival.

And that’s good news for a club that has faced the threat of closure on more than one occasion over the past decade or so.

 

COUNTRY RACING SERIES WILL PROVE POPULAR IF INNISFAIL IS ANY GUIDE

FINALLY if the meeting at Innisfail on New Year’s Day is an indication, racing in spite of the aforementioned impediments, is far from being in the doldrums.

The first meeting of the Country Series concept  was conducted at Pease Park and it was reminiscent of the old Johnstone River Handicap  days when  it was standing room only.

The club catered for the biggest one day meeting in ages and not even the  sudden mid-afternoon   downpour could dampen the enthusiasm.

On March 3 Mareeba will be the venue for the new Country Series day with a $10,000 feature, a QTIS race and four other races worth $5500 – up $1500 on the norm. Three weeks later Ingham will be host with all minor races worth $6000.

Worth mentioning here that your columnist attended the recent  TAB meeting at Wodonga on Boxing Day. Wodonga is one of Victoria’s main training centres and the traditional Boxing Day meeting is the club’s busiest of the year – and always has been.

But the prizemoney on offer left a bit to be desired? Try $4400 to the winner of each race.

But horses and jockeys still came from all over the State.

 

TOP YEARLING AT MAGIC MILLIONS TO BE SOLD IN TIME FOR CHANNEL 9 NEWS

THE Magic Millions is upon us again – where the champagne pops and everything else stop – except for the frenzied bidding, of course.

It is one of Queensland’s signature events.

The only certainty from the sale, judged on previous years, will be that the top priced yearling will be knocked down just in time for the Channel 9 news.

Funny that!

And according to one of our devout readers, of the 900 yearlings to be presented (and hopefully sold) at this year’s sessions, only 49 are actually Queensland- bred.

Happy New Year!

 

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..